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SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

THE ART OF 

FENCING 



BY REGIS AND LOUIS SENAC 

OF NEW YORK 
PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONS OF AMERICA 



Including a Chapter on 
Sabre Exercises by Dr. 
Edward Breck of Boston 



Puyished by the 

American Sports Publishing Company 

15 Warren Street, New York 



LIBRARY Of OONGRESS 

TWO CoDles RecelvMl 

AUG 12 1904 

Cooyrlfht Entry 

CLASS ^XXo. N«. 

01 ij- ti Z 

COPY B 



^t^^ 



Copyright, 1904 

BY 

Amkkican Sports Publishing Company 
New York 



*9^ 



Spaldins^' s Athletic Library. 



INTRODUCTION 



The two best known and most capable instructors in fencing in 
America are Regis and Louis Senac, the Parisian experts who 
have long conducted an academy in New York City. Regis Senac, 
father of Louis Senac, was for many years instructor of fencing in 
the French army, the soldiers of which have won a world wide 
reputation as exponents of the highest form of the foil, sword and 
sabre wielder's art. M. Senac came tb the United States in 1872. 
Shortly after his arrival here he won the fencing championship of 
America in a contest held in Tammany Hall, New York. He 
established a fencing school in 1874, which has continued to this 
day, graduates of which are leaders in both amateur and profes- 
sional ranks. 

Louis Senac, having had from an early age the benefit of his 
father's training, has developed into one of the most formidable 
fencers of modern days. He recently issued a challenge to the 
world for the international championship title. 

Many well known people have studied fencing under the Senacs, 
among them being Perry Belmont, W. Gould Brokaw, Clarence 
Mackay, the Iselins of yachting fame, Mrs. Paul Dana, etc., etc. 
Scores of theatrical people, realizing the great value of the train- 
ing derived from fencing, have also been their pupils. 

In addition to his wide experience as an instructor, Regis Senac 
has also found occasion to put his fencing ability to more serious 
purposes. In France he participated in three duels and in each 
encounter was victorious, escaping without a single scratch, while 
every one of his opponents was seriously disabled. 

The Senac fencing academy is at No. 1947 Broadway, near 
Sixty-fifth Street, New York, where Regis and Louis Senac in- 
struct both individuals and classes. Louis Senac also has quarters 
in the Berkeley Lyceum, in West Forty-fifth Street, where he 
gives lessons twice a week. 




OFFERING AN OPPONENT THE CHOICE OF FOILS 
BEFORE A CONTEST. 



Spa/dino-'s Athletic Library 



THE ANTIQUITY OF FENCING 



A sport for even the kingliest of kings and a science \vt)i-thy of 
the closest study is fencing, and many years of popularity have 
firmly imbedded it in the hearts of thousands of people. The 
noble art of attack and defense with the foil is one of the oldest 
diversions having wide latter-day vogue, and the fact that it has 
held its own w^ith the multitudinous pastimes of the present period 
speaks volumes in testimony of the fascinations of the play and 
clash of steel. 

Modern fencing was fathered by the sw(jrdplay of the medieval 
ages when, too often perhaps for the comfort and longevity of 
the populace, "might made right" and the life and honor of 
dashing cavaliers depended on their ability to wield the rapier or 
the sword. For purposes of pleasurable exercise and bodily train- 
ing the ponderous old-time swords gave way in after years to the 
sensitive, tapering foil with which we are all familiar. Downward 
slashes and side cuts were replaced by the thrust, and science 
made success more the fruit of art and less the reward of mere 
brute strength. 

History tells us that the first swords were used by the Greeks 
and the Romans. The weapons of that ancient epoch were clumsy 
implements of bronze, which inflicted a terrible wound. So far as 
the scientific use of the blade is concerned, however, we must look 
back to Spain, where the possibilities of the sword were first 
realized and developed. The Spaniards caused the " Song of the 
Sword" to become familiar " music " throughout their own land 
and others, and the daring dons, swarthy of mien and haughty ii 
bearing, rise to heights in their deftness with the glistening steel 



in 



spa Idi flip's Athletic Li /wary. 

From Spain swordplay was introduced into Italy and France 
and later it spread into Germany, England and America, etc. 
The word "sword" is used in a somewhat general sense, for 
the weapons, while they may be so described, exhibited a variety 
in form. There w^ere huge, double-bladed bars of metal which 
were swung with both hands, and their office was to crush the 
heavy plates of armor worn by warriors of the period. Also there 
were weighty pointed blades, with both edges sharpened, to be 
manrcuvered with one hand, and then came the rapier, a lighter 
weapon that permitted scientific handling, etc., etc. Daggers, 
too, were considered a necessary adjunct to the accoutrement of 
the Sir Knight and to the dress of the gentleman of leisure. 

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the introduc- 
tion and usage of steel weapons was one of the "striking" 
features of life. It has been said that the history of the sword is 
the history of the world, and this statement is particularly true of 
the hundred years extending from the middle of the sixteenth 
century to the middle of the seventeenth century. The popular 
weapon of the times was the Spanish-Italian rapier, with its 
accompaniments — a poniard and a buckler, a gauntlet or a cloak, 
the latter being used as a means of defence. 

The advent of the rapier brought about " the most quarrelsome 
period in history," and everywhere instructions in the handling 
of the implements of assault and protection were in demand. In 
Italy experts made fortunes in giving lessons, and duels, street 
fights and other hand-to-hand engagements multiplied with in- 
credible rapidity. It seemed that men sought to know the secrets 
of the sword and rapier science merely to demonstrate to the 
world the extent of their prowess, and which could be evidenced 
only by the spilling of blood in large quantities. 

The rapier began as a plain, cross-hilted sword. Finally it 



Spalding' s Athletic Library. ii 

acquired guards as a protection to the hand, and afterward it took 
on the cup form of handle, by which we now know it. Sekloni 
less than four feet in length, extending in some cases to five feet, 
and tapering to the sharpest of points, a deadly wound could 
easily result from a thrust. 

As the adjunct of the rapier, the dagger was hardly less dan- 
gerous, since it could be used, not only to parry blows with the 
sword, but also to supplement the attack with that weapon. A 
common use of the dagger was to give the "coup de grace " after 
the contest with the sword had been won. 

The combatants usually stripped to their shirts for the en- 
counter, and when both weapons w^ere used the fight was sure to 
be picturesque and exciting in the extreme. Among the tricks 
attempted by the fighters was that of seizing an opponent's 
dagger by its blade and wrenching it from his grasp. 

In order to prevent this, the dagger was made with saw-like 
teeth, set backward, to cut through the gloved hand of the 
swordsman and cruelly lacerate that member. As a counter 
measure, fine mail was sewed into the gauntlet, protecting the 
hand, and breaking the teeth of the dagger. Sometimes, after 
the dagger had been torn from the hand of an antagonist, 
the swordsman could throw it into the air with such precision 
that it has been known to pierce and kill the opponent in its 
descent. 

In the course of time the blade was made shorter and deprived 
of some of its weight. With this lighter instrument came rapid 
advances in the science of rapier usage. The parry, the feint and 
the lunge became established and recognized elements, and then 
followed the lunge. The lunge is the forward movement of the 
body, executed by advancing the forward foot, the right, without 
displacing the rear foot. The credit for the discovery of the lunge 



S/fa/dinsr's Athletic IJfrrary. 13 

is given to (liGrassi, a noted Italian fencing master of tlie six- 
teenth century. 

The introduction of fencing into Italy and France resulted in 
the founding of two distinct schools or systems of attack and 
defense. The French system is held to be the superior and at the 
present day the ablest exponents of the fencing science are 
Frenchmen. The French school calls forth all the grace, agility 
and sensitiveness of touch a man or woman is capable of mani- 
festing. It is a case of touch and go every moment. The French- 
man wins by finesse, by the apotheosis of skilful maneuvering. 
The Italian depends to a great extent on the power of his attack, 
seeking to bear opponents down by sheer strength. He puts 
more force into his thrusts and frequently stamps his forward foot 
violently and exclaims. An authority once said, "A Hercules is 
required in the making of a successful Italian fencer; a woman 
may rise to the top in the French school," 

While that statement may perhaps be overdrawn, the idea of 
the difference in the two systems is well conveyed, 

Henri Saint-Didier, a fencing instructor in Paris in 1570, was 
one of the leading pioneers of the art in France, It is generally 
believed that he gave names to the thrusts, etc., then in the 
fencer's repertoire. A teacher after Saint-Didier' s time, Paer, 
arranged the various parries in classes, five in all, prime, seconde, 
tierce, quarte and quinte. The government military establish- 
ment near Paris, the High School of Military Gymnastics, is 
principally responsible for the progress of fencing in France of 
late years. :Mastcrs-at-arms are graduated from this institution 
who are sent to instruct the men in the various regiments of the 
French army. 

France, Italy and Spain have long lists of names of fencers that 
have added to the fame of their countries. Aside from Saint- 



Spalding's Aihietic Library. 15 

Didicr probably one of the best known of the t)kl French experts 
was Chevalier d'F.on de Beaumont. He was born in 1728 and 
died in 1810. As a punishment for a political offense, the king 
of France, Louis XV., ordered him to wear woman's clothes, 
and as a result many people believed him to be really a woman. 
Beaumont went to London in 1763 as a plenipotentiary from the 
French court. His greatest fencing feat occurred when he met and 
defeated the then renowned Chevalier de Saint George. He 
reached the body of Saint George seven times, the latter scoring 
not even a single point. Saint George, by the way, was born at 
Guadaloupc, and was the son of a wealthy planter and a negress 
known as "La Belle Nanon." At exhibitions in London it was 
once remarked in regard to Saint George that "no professor or 
amateur ever showed so much accuracy, such strength, such 
length of lunge, and such quickness as he; his attacks were a 
perpetual series of hits; his parade was so close that it was in 
vain to attempt to touch him; in short, he w^as all nerve." 

Other eminent masters of the French school in bygone days 
were Boessiere, the two Bertrands and Charlemangue. 

Oldtime Italian fencers of note, who also wrote about the art, 
were Alarozzo, Agrippa, Grassi, Fabris and Manciolino. Car- 
ran/.a and Narvaez were leaders in Spain. 

Germans showed comparatively little originality in rapier- play, 
having adopted first the Italian, and then a mixture of the Italian 
and French styles, but they are held in esteem as practical swords- 
men. The Kreussler fencers, taught by one Kreusslcr, the 
founder of a family of twelve fencing masters, made a reputation for 
themselves all over Europe. 

From the middle of the eighteenth century fencing was regarded 
as the study of paramount importance at German universities. At 
Jena, Halle, Leipzig, Heidelberg, and, later on, at Goettingen, 



Spalding s Athletic Library. 17 

Helmstadt and Siessen, duels became so common and dangerous, 
-the play being simply cut and thrust fencing-that even the 
most peaceable student was never sure of his life for a single day. 
Until about the third decade of the last century, the students 
insisted on fighting with the rapier, and on being either killed or 
dangerously wounded in an encounter. But as the German univer- 
sity fencing schools lost their importance the modern French foil 
play came into existence, while the system of fencing followed by 
the students became so specialized as to lose its true character, the 
object being simply to lacerate the opponent's head and face as much 
as possible, meanwhile protecting one's self from similar injuries. 
Constant rivalry exists between the French and Italian schools. 
Their exponents seldom if ever weary of claiming preeminence 
for their own particular method. On several occasions matches 
have been engaged in by representatives of these two countries, 
and great interest has always been attracted to them. The most 
recent important contest of this sort was held in Paris a few 
years ago, when M. Damote, a maitre d'armes of Paris, clashed 
with and was wounded by M. Athos de San Malato, an Italian 
expert of prominence. 

A careful consideration of the respective merits of the two 
schools teaches that the Italian school is, and always will be, 
inferior to the French, at least as long as the Italian fencer relies 
upon vigor and gymnastic ability instead of upon skill and agility, 
as does the Frenchman. 

The art of the fencer consists more of adroitness than of 
mere strength, and its principles have long ago been laid down 
and explained. To fence according to the Italian method a man 
must be gifted naturally with considerable bodily strength, while, 
according to French authorities, a fencer who develops his mus- 
cles abnormally will seldom excel with the foil. 



Spaldinif s Athletic Library. 19 

The fact is that there are in France a great number of persons 
in the very highest ranks of society, who, while skilful fencers, 
are yet Dy no means remarkably strong. 

It is undoubtedly true that in most contests between Italians and 
Frenchmen, where both had an ecjual reputation, the French ex- 
pert w^on. 

For those who have studied the (juestion the position of the 
French fencer is more to be admired than that of the Italian. 
The former is majestic, guards composedly, and is always covered; 
the Italian, on the other hand, is continually in movement, some- 
times crouching, sometimes erect, but all the time apparently 
ready to jump upon his adversary, while from his throat issue 
strange guttural sounds, which are only too apt to mislead the 
spectators into believing his attacks much more dangerous than 
they really are. Most modern French fencing masters are 
graduates from the government school of Joinville-le-Pont, 
before mentioned. Such a school does not exist in Ftaly, or, in 
fact, in any other country outside the French dominions. At 
this school there are ten French teachers and but one Italian. 

History tells of the celebrated Jean Louis, who, in 1814, wdiile 
with the French army then invading Spain, killed thirteen Italian 
fencing masters in succession. 

In Shakespeare's time, fencing with rapier and dagger was a 
prime favorite among recreations, and other less peaceable pur- 
suits. We find many passages in the works of the Bard of Avon 
referring to sword play. In " Romeo and Juliet " we read : 

He tilts 
With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast ; 
Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point. 
And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats 
Cold death aside, and with the other sends 
It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity 
Retorts it. 



Spaldifij^' s Athletic Library. 21 

THE REWARDS OF FENCING. 

The fencer is always cntlmsiastic concerning his art. his " jjjrande 
passion." And why is this the case? Why does he not accept 
his fencing pleasures philosophically and continue in the even 
tenor of his way ? The truth is, that he has found something of 
great value, of undeniable fascination, and about which he believes 
all his friends and acquaintances should know. Therefore does 
he i)ul)lish the tidings abroad. 

Sometimes uninitiated folk marvel at the unbounded praise 
fencing devotees shower on their favorite diversion. They stand 
aloof with a superior air and occasionally condescend to show a 
modicum of interest in the foils. 

There comes a time, however, when the supercilious one 
becomes infected by the fever. He dons fencing garb, grasps a 
foil, and makes some instructor's life one continuous round of 
labor for W2eks at a time. Then one day he realizes that he is 
actually a convert tc the foils and that his enthusiasm may well 
be said to border on the fanatical. " I came to laugh and I re- 
mained to learn." he says to himself, and delves still deeper into 
the mysteries of the intricate, yet unparalleled science. 

It is through many rewards to its disciples that fencing holds 
the attention of every man and woman, even though he or she 
taste ever so sparingly of its cup of pleasure. First, the practice 
of fencing afTords an exercise that is absolutely unrivaled as a 
natural aid to the highest form of physical development and edu- 
cation. (Muscles as well as brains can be educated.) Can you 
fail to recognize the fencer ? His grace and elasticity of bearing ; 
his elegance of manner ; his calm reserve, and, withal, the keenest 
of eyes ; his firm hand-clasp, literally vibrating with energy ; the 
admirable poise of his head ; his erect carriage, and his buoyant 
step set him apart from ordinary men, men of sedentary pursuits. 



S/ycj/d!?/i:'s Athletic Libtary. 23 

The fencer is more what the Creator intcmkHl man to he. than is 
the merchant or l)anker who shuts himself in Iiis private oftiee 
from morning until night, cramping his chest antl hmgs. rounchng 
his shoulders and breathing " second-hand " air. 

The physical benefits of fencing are so numerous, in fact, that 
he that would enumerate them in detail must needs possess a vast 
measure of endurance. Every muscle is brought into play, in- 
dividually and in combination, and the system is invigorated sur- 
prisingly. As a stimulant, a fencing bout is far more effective 
than the best tonic a physician could prescribe. So if j-ou are a 
victim of any sort of a depressing affliction, try the fencing cure. 
After finishing with the foils, a cold bath and a rub down with a 
rough towel will chop off at least ten years from the burden Old 
Father Time has rolled upon you. 

The fingers, wrists, arms, shoulders and legs are doubled in 
power by methodical fencing. This development of the muscular 
tissues, moreover, is invariably symmetrical. No huge, unsightly 
bunches of muscle stand out to impress bystanders. Lithe, agile 
and quick as a wildcat, the operator of the foil is as far removed 
from the abnormal as is the product of a sculptor's chisel. Large 
muscles, such as some few of the Italian fencers possess, for in- 
stance, retard the rapidity of movement and render impossible 
good form of even the most elementary description. In addition, 
overdeveloped muscles tire far more quickly than do those of 
average size. 

Fencing also gives a man a mental equipment superior to that 
which he originally devoted to the art. The exercise requires 
study, thought and memory. It is none the less a science for 
being a recreation. Do not deceive yourself on this point. The 
brain is prompted to act without a moment's hesitation. It must 
change perception into action instantaneously. Readiness of wit 




No. 7-THE FIRST POSITION OF "ON GUARD" (RIGHT 
HAND). 



Spaldifi,i:'s AfhJctic Library. 25 

is an unmistakable attribute of the fencer. He is as resourceful 
and as full of cunning as an Apache brave, and this is by no 
means a comparison to be sneered at. The fencer should make a 
better financier or diplomat than should a man reared along re- 
stricted lines. He should be quick to detect the weakness or 
strength of an argument or a situation and act swiftly, unerringly. 
He must do this very thing in fencing bouts. Cannot the same 
practice be transferred to business or professional life ? There is 
no apparent reason to the contrary. 

In social and everyday life the fencer has a distinct advantage 
over his narrower, disinterested, more prosaic co-laborer. He 
feels sure of himself at all times and under all conditions. His 
training has rendered it impossible for him to strike an awkward 
pose. He will unconsciously make movements that will attract 
attention through their eas ;. The constant use of his arms and 
hands has made him stronger than the ordinary man and the 
knowledge of this fact gives him confidence he would otherwise 
lack. In the business world he will be able to stand a great 
strain. No task will appal. The fresh blood and newly formed 
tissues will support him through many a crisis when competitors 
are exhausted and mayhap seriously ill through their efiforts. 
The atmosphere of freshness and enthusiasm that he will uncon- 
sciously carry with him is certain to favorably impress the people 
with whom he comes in contact. 

Fencing knowledge has often saved a man's life, or at least 
preserved him from serious bodily injury or loss of valuables. 
Attacked by footpads in a lonely spot, the fencer is able to keep 
his assailants at a distance with nothing more than a cane and 
possibly disable them. A relative of the writer was once sur- 
prised in his home by a burglar. The intruder, a burly ruffian, 
sought to overpower the man in question by brute force. The 




No. 8-SECOND POSITION OF THE GUARD (RIGHT HAND). 



Spaldinfr' s Athletic Library. 27 

latter, however, seized an umbrella, and, being an expert fencer, 
resisted the rushes of his opponent and punished him so severely 
that he was unable to escape from the police. 

WOMEN AND FENCING. 

Women find the art of handling the foils to be a wonderful 
benefit in many ways. The exercise reduces surplus adipose 
tissue, making their figures trim and comely, rounds their 
muscles, develops their busts, and the stimulus to the circulation 
of the blood improves their complexions to a highly desirable 
degree. They find fencing to be as conducive to lightness of 
foot and all around gracefulness as dancing, and all the large 
fencers' clubs reserve certain hours each week for the conve- 
nience of the wives and daughters of the members. In the New 
York Fencers' Club, for instance, an extract from the provisions 
of the House Committee reads as follows: 

"The Ladies' Class has the privileges of the Club every Mon- 
day, Wednesday and Friday morning from 10 until i o'clock. 
The Maitre d'Armes and Prevot will be in attendance to give 
lessons." 

Some of the woman fencers in this country are remaikably 
expert in execution of the various thrusts, parries and feints, and 
Miss Toupie Lowther, the well known champion of the English 
women's fencing world, is more than a match f(jr many a man 
that considers himself a capable performer. 




No. 9-THIRD POSITION OF THE GUARD (RIGHT HAND). 



Spaldi flip's Athletic Literary. 29 



HOW TO FENCE 



He that would become proficient in fencing must make up his 
mind to devote a somewhat lengthy period to study and practice. 
The intricacies of the art are such that only the determined man 
can ever hope to excel. The erratic genius, the intermittent 
dabbler, the half hearted imitation enthusiast has no place on a 
fencing floor. A competent instructor is an absolute necessity, 
one that has mastered all the ins and outs of foil wielding, and 
when obtained his words should be given serious heed. 

One of the first things you will learn will be the proper manner 
of holding the foil. You can never rise above the mediocre in 
fencing unless you are taught this point. 

HOLDING THE FOIL-SUPINATION AND 
PRONATION. 
Hold the foil with the thumb resting on the upper and broader 
side. Do not allow your thumb to come in contact with the hilt. 
Some fencers raise its tip so as to avoid receiving a jar during an 
interchange of blows or thrusts. Close the fingers firmly around 
the handle and do not let them overlap the thumb. When the 
fingers monopolize space that should be devoted to the thumb 
harmful interference results. If the foil is properly held the 
front of the thumb nail will face upwards and the nails of the 
fingers will face to your left— unless you are left handed. The 
importance of the proper holding of the foil will be realized when 
it is known that the fingers direct the course the point is to take 
and also prevent the handle from swerving in the hand. The mode 
of holding the foil which has just been described, is known as 




No. 10-FODRTH POSITION OF TilE GUARD (RIGHT HAND)- 
CORRECT. 



Spaldifig-' s Athletic Library. 31 

supination. In addition to it there is a position termed pronation. 
A foil held in supination is shown in Photo No. i. When a foil 
is held in pronation the fingers are drawn closer together than in 
supination. The thumb comes closer to the fingers and the back 
of the hand is turned upwards. The position known as pronation 
is assumed in some attacks and parries, but supination is more 
frcfjuently used. Do not forget, as do many superficial students 
of fencing, that the play of the wrist and the fingers is the \n-\m- 
ary, and the manipulation of the arm the secondary, consideration 
in a bout. 

A foil held in pronation is shown in Photo No. 2. For varia- 
tions in grip see also illustrations Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6. 

Probably every beginner finds the fencing grip and variations 
tiresome to persist in practising. But later on, when the muscles 
of the fingers and the hands become accustomed to the positions 
no inconvenience will result. 

The elementary position in fencing is "on guard." The com- 
batant takes his pose at the beginning of an engagement and from 
it moves into the general action involved in parries, attack, etc. 
In putting yourself on guard, proceed according to the poses— for 
the right hand— illustrated in Photos Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 
13, for left hand, Nos. 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, all of which are as 
follows : 

THE MOVEMENTS OF "ON GUARD." 

(Right Hand.) 
FIRST -POSlTlO^-P/ioto No. 7. 
In the first position to be assumed in coming to " on guard " 
stand erect, facing outward toward your opponent. Hold your 
heels close together, your calves touching, if possible. Point the 
feet outward at a right angle. Extend the fingers of the left 
hand, the palm facing outwards. Hold the foil in supination in 




No. lOA- FOURTH POSITION OF THE GUARD (RIGHT HAND) 

-INCORRECT. 

[Note— Blade of foil is dropped too much from a straight line.] 



Spaldifii^' s At /lie fie Library. 2)Z 

the right liaiul. the nails turned upwards. Straighten the right 
arm and skint it outward from the bt)dy, as in Photo No. 7. 

SECOND POSITION-/%c;/(; .V^. S. 
Sweep the foil downward and point it outward from the body, 
the point almost touching the lloor. Do not bend your elbow. 
The left hand, arm and feet maintain the same attitude as in the 
first position. Also keep the body erect and direct the eyes 
straight ahead. 

THIRD POSITION-/%t;/<; Xo. 9. 
Bring the hands together in the third position as illustrated in 
Photo No. 9. Point the foil on a straight line across the body 
to the left (it being taken for granted that you are right handed) 
and llatten the left hand on the top of the foil, the nails down- 
ward. Still keep the legs straight, the body erect and the heels 
close together with the feet at right angles to each other. 

FOURTH POSITION— /y/(>/^5 Xo. 10, 10a. 

Now bend your arms upward, close to the i)ody, turning the left 
hand so that the nails face upward. Bend the arms in a circle 
around the head and, to preserve good form, take care to have 
each arm bent at the same distance from the side of the head. 
Point the foil to the left, resting it on the flattened back of the 
left hand. Keep the weapon in a straight line. You will detract 
materially from the merit of your performance if you drop your 
point lower than, or raise it higher than, the handle. Look to 
the front. 

FIFTH POSITION-/y/^7/^ Xo. 11. 

Lower the right hand to a position opposite the right breast, 
point your foil outwards, and follow the line of the foil with your 
eyes. Drop the left elbow and arch the left hand gracefully over 
the left shoulder. 



Spalding's Athletic Library. 35 

SIXTH POSITION— /'//^V^J Xo. 12. 

Bend at tlie knees. Do not, however, lean forward. Hold the 
right and left arm as in the fifth position. Keep the heels close 
together. 

SRVEXTH POSITION-/y/(V.7 No. 13. 

In the seventh jiosition advance the right foot as shown in 
Photo No. 13. Do not extend the right knee be3^ond the line of 
the right foot. The knee should be directly over the foot. Turn 
the left foot outward a trifle, in order to preserve balance and 
grace. Keep it flat on the floor. The left knee should also turn 
outward. Hold the left hand in position over the left shoulder. 
Now you are ready to extend the right arm, to straighten and 
stiffen the left leg, and lunge. 

You arc on guard (Right Hand) at the completion of these 
movements and they should be practiced so that you can execute 
them rapidly without in the least sacrificing grace and good form. 
For the positions of "on guard" with the left hand, except for the 
change of hand same as with right, see Photos Nos. 14, 15, 16, 17 
and 18. 

Another reiinisitc for the beginner is that he learn the various 
positions leading up to an actual bout, such as awaiting an adver- 
sary, drawing the foil, saluting, etc., etc. See Photos Nos. 19, 
20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. 

ADVANCE AND RETREAT. 
Following in order is the addition of the advance and retreat 
manoeuvcrs to the fencer's repertoire. To execute the correct ad- 
vance, carry the right foot ahead a short distance w^ith a snappy, 
decisive step, not necessarily a loud i)owerfuI stamp, as some fen- 
cers afifect. Quickly follow the right with the left foot holding, 
meanwhile, the same position of the body. 




No. 11-FIFTH POSITION OF THE GUARD (RIGHT HAND). 



S/xr/din^'s Athletic Library. 37 

The left foot is moved back one step in the retreat which is 
naturally the opposite to advance. The right follows the left in 
this case. Advance and retreat movements have been imitated 
by the originators of the bayonet drills used in the United States 
army, with which fact Regulars and National guardsmen are prob- 
ably aware. An illustration of a lunge (of which there are many 
in this book) will show the position of a fencer in advancing. 

In advancing and retreating, care should be taken that you do 
not permit either movement to afTect what is best described as 
''good form." Assuming that your pose is accurate before the 
advance or the retreat it should also be accurate after your change 
of base. Moreover, the transition should be effected with as 
much grace as possible. It may be well to add that the most 
familiar faults of the beginner are that he raises his feet too high 
in stepping or takes steps either too long or too short. Find the 
happy medium and stick to it. Always be on the alert wdiile 
changing your position and never fail to observe exactly how the 
alteration of base has afifected the momentary conditions of the 
contest. Keep your body entirely under control at all times. 

THE UNDERLYING FEATURE OF ATTACK- 
THE THRUST. 

The thrust is the fundamental element of attack in the fencer's 
repertoire. Its importance is paramount, and is in striking con- 
trast with its comparative ease of execution. 

To perform the ordinary thrust, merely lower the point of the 
foil to the point you wash to hit and straighten the arm snappily. 
^Manipulate only the fingers and wrist in dropping the point. The 
principal requirements are accuracy and quickness. You must 
practice the thrust incessantly. Do not be led into careless ways 
through over-estimation of the simplicity of the movement. 




No. 12-SIXTH POSITION OF THE GUARD (RIGHT HAND). 



S/>(7/di>/,i:'s .ItJilctic Library. 39 

The thrust is termed a "riposte" when your opponent can be 
reached by it alone ; that is. without the forward movement of 
any other part of the body. You will be aided in thrusting pro- 
perly by remembering two inviolate regulations. First, the arm 
must be straightened at the moment the foil strikes home and the 
point should be dropped lower than the hand. INIany an (^her- 
wise capable fencer has ruined the technique of his art by failing 
to develop the thrust. 

THE l^\]KGV.- PJwtos Xos. 26, 27, 2S, 2Sa. 

Next in order to the thrust we should consider the lunge. The 
lunge is a combination of the former stroke with a forward 
bend of the body, etc., and which is well described by its name. 
Thus, it will be seen, the thrust is a prominent feature of the lunge. 

In lunging (with the right hand) thrust, and simultaneously 
advance the right foot to say twice its length, and by straighten- 
ing the left leg, carry the body forward. Drop the left arm 
quickly to the side, turning the back of the hand inwards. 
To maintain good form hold the head erect. Do not, moreover, 
overbalance yourself by allowing your body to bend too far 
beyond the line of the right foot. Balance should be held under 
all circumstances. When you lose your balance you are com- 
pletely at the mercy of your opponent just as in boxing. You 
cannot avoid leaving an inviting opening. The lower part of the 
right leg— between the knee and the ankle— should be kept in a 
straight line (see Photo No. 26) . When you lean too far front on 
the knee you are of¥ the proper line of balance (see photo No. 28) 
and will f^nd difficulty in springing swiftly back to a defensive 
position, should your adversary suddenly advance. 

Take care in lunging not to turn over the left foot on its inner 
side. You should keep the sole of this foot flat on the floor. If 




No. 13-SEVENTH POSITION OF THE GUARD (RIGHT HAND). 



Spaldi flip's .Ithlctic Library. 4I 

the position strains your ankle muscles at first, persevere. 
Practice will overcome this inconvenience. 



THE RECOVERY. 

At the completion of the thrust and the lunge, you must exe- 
cute the recovery. In this move you bring the right foot back 
to its original position and again bend the left knee which you 
have straightened. Elevate your left arm to a line with the left 
shoulder at the same time, arching the wrist over it as in the 
"on guard " attitude. 

The manteuvers described in the foregoing paragraphs should 
not be considered merely in the light of individual features. They 
are to be used in combination, each merging gracefully into an- 
other, and one depending on another, just as the different parts 
of a steam engine unite in their workings to produce motion. A 
fault in one piece of the locomotive's intricate mechanism nullifies 
whatever merit exists in the remaining machinery, and exactly so 
is the fencer affected by a lapse in the i)crf()rmance of even a 
minor branch of techniciue. 

Probably the tyro will be tempted to place too light a valuation 
on the movements involved in executing on guard, advance and 
retreat, the thrust, the lunge, and the recovery, etc. True, they 
may prove irksome at the start but all accomplishment with the 
foils is based on practice and to use a familiar expression, you 
must " keep everlastingly at it." If " necessity is the mother of 
invention," well directed efYorts is the father of success, and 
while the writer does not claim distinction as an epigrammist, 
he is well aware of the fact that perserverance and painstaking 
development of fundamentals is absolutely necessary in the produc- 
tion of a fencer. 



Spaldififfs Athletic Library. 43 

CONCERNING THE "GAIN." 
While speaking of combinations, we should not neglect another 
manocuvcr frequently brought into play with the lunge. In the 
gain you carry the left foot to a point close to and on a line with 
the right, both knees being bent at a widely diverging angle. In 
this manner you may oftentimes mislead your opponent in his 
estimate of distance, after the fashion of crafty boxers that have 
mastered the art of approaching within striking distance of their 
antagonists before the last named realize the fact. 

The gain enables you to obtain a longer reach and you can then 
approach into hitting distance of a man without his becoming 
cognizant of it. In addition, he will not be able to tell the point 
from which your next attack will start. This practice is also used 
to advantage in following up a retreat. Endeavor to keep your 
balance. Do not swing from one side to the other. Invariably 
hold the right knee in its bent attitude so as not to reveal by it to 
your adversary that you are about to change your tactics. Seek 
to bring forward the left foot in as much of a line with the right 
as possible, for then you will disguise the movement of the former. 
A recommendation has been made that short men use the gain 
frequently. It is suggested that thus they will in a measure be 
able to combat the handicap of their lack of stature and of reach. 

LINES OF ENGAGEMENT. 
The learning of riie terms used in fencing has caused many 
beginners trouble, and yet the nomenclature of the science is 
easy of appropriation for one's use if studied systematically. 
Possibly the most difficult terms are those having to do with 
what are known as "the lines of engagement," and which, at 
the same time, are among the expressions used most frequently. 
The lines of engagement are imaginary marks on the front of the 





i 


\ 

::)• 




aM..^ 


i 









Spaldifigs Athletic Library. 45 

encing jacket which separate its face into four sections. These 
sections have particular names and attacks and parries are given 
names identifying them with the spot hit or defended. The upper 
quarters are termed the "high Hues," the two beneath, the "low 
lines." In addition, the sections are divided into sides, the right 
or outside, and the left or inside. Each part of the quartered 
area is given two names, one of which, denotes, in most cases, 
whether the attack or parry is executed in pronation or in supi- 
nation. The four sections and their designations are as follows: 
Upper left side, Quarte (in supination); and Quinte (in either 
supination or pronation); upper right side, Sixte (in supination) 
and Tierce (in pronation); lower left side, Septime, or "half 
circle" (in supination) and Prime (in pronation); lower right 
side. Octave (in supination) and Seconde (in pronation). 

Pri}}ie is pronounced 
' ' preem ' ' ; seconde is 
the same excepting 
that the accent is on 
the last syllable; tierce 
l^lgk I Y'\^^ f7'\ ""'^^ '^ "teeairce", with 

the accent on the 
" aircc "; quarte is 
"carte"; quinte is 
"cant" ; septime is 
' ' septeem , ' ' and octave 
is "octahve." 

To better illustrate 
the arrangement of the 
high and low lines the 
accompanying d i a - 
gram is inserted. 




Xt>e » 



LINES OF ENGAGEMENT. 




No. 14-FIRST POSITION OP THE GUARD (LEFT HAND). 



Spa/dino's Athletic Library. 47 

As the boundaries of the different lines are hut imuginary the 
various sections must of course be but approximately calculated. 
For scoring purposes, generally recognized rules have been formu- 
lated. They provide that hits, either too high or too low, shall not 
be permissible, that is, so far as they affect the official restilt of a 
match. The actual area in which hits count is that part of the 
front of the jacket extending from the line of the collar bone to 
the line of the hips. While hits somewhat higher or lower 
than the prescribed space do not receive full approval, they are 
recognized, however, by being recorded as "low," "high" or 
"to the right," as the case may be. 

PARRIES. 

A parry is a movement that turns away an opponent's foil point 
from the spot it is intended to hit and which may be merged into 
an attack. The reader may be of the opinion that the principles 
of attack should be given first consideration, but as parries are 
simpler we award them priority to attack in this instance. In 
relation to parries, study carefully the photos referred to later. 

The arm is subordinate in the making of parries, which to a 
greater extent are executed with the fingers and wrist. It may 
well be added that the edge of the foil, as opposed to the flat side, 
is used in all parries, which are made by tapping an opponent's 
blade lightly and (luickly. The forte of the parrying blade strikes 
the adversary's weapon. In this manner the forte, the point of 
your blade that gives you the advantage of the maximum of 
leverage, comes in contact with the opposing foil at the point— 
the foible— where its force is least capable of offering resistance. 

SIMPLE PARRIES. 
There are two kinds of parries, simple and counter. The first 
named will now be dealt with. The lines of engagement give 




No. 15-SECOND POSITION OF THE GUARD (LEFT HAND). 



S/>a/(//>/<:'s At hi die Library. 4g 

names to llie i)arrios in the simple elass. prime, seconde, 
tierce, etc. 

THE PARRY OF QUARTE-/V/^/<;:j A^^^. 29, 30. 
The most important parry is the parry of quarte. In this 
manoeuver the blade is carried quickly across tiie body from rit;ht 
to left. Use the fingers and wrist as much as possible. The 
elbow should be kept on a line with the hip bone and far enough 
from the body— just far enough and no more— to prevent cramp- 
ing. Now, with a light tap on the foible of your opponent's foil 
his point is turned away from its line of attack, leaving your foil 
pointing slightly upward. Your right forearm should slant across 
your body to guard your left breast. For engagement of quarte 
see Photo No. 31. For a touch in (piarte. Photo No. Z-- 

THE PARRY OF SIXTE. 
In making a ])arry of sixte, proceed as follows : 
Move your foil (juickly across your body from left to right — from 
inside to outside — protecting the right breast. With practice you 
will be able to instill enough strength into the stroke to sweep 
your opponent's blade out of its intended course and free of the 
line of your body. The wrist, however, will strengthen gradually. 
Do not rely on arm parries. They are clumsy and ineffective 
against a trained fencer. 

TIIE PARRY OF SEPTniE. 
In parrying an attack in septime maintain the hand in the same 
position as in the parry of quarte. Drop the point with a semi- 
circular outward movement below the hand, taking care not to 
lower the hand or to drop the point below the waist line. Use 
power enough to carry the opposing foil clear of your body. The 
name " half circle " is freciuently applied to this manoeuver. The 




No. 16-THIRD POSITION OF THE GUARD (LEFT HAND). 



Spalding's Athletic Libra)-}'. 51 

parry of septime is generally used when, engaged in quarte, the 
low line on the same side is threatened. 

THE PARRY OF OCTAVE. 
Should your opponent threaten the low line on the same side 
when you are covered in sixte, you resort to the parry of octave. 
The parry is made by an outward half circle manLCuver similar 
to that in the parry of septime. 

"LOW QUARTE," OR THE PARRY OF QUINTE- 
Photos Xos. 33, 34. 
The parry of quinte guards the section between septime and 
quarte. Execute it by lowering the hand from quarte toward the 
hip, keeping the point directed slightly upward, and force the 
attacking point away from your body. For a disarm in Quinte 
see Photo No. 34a. 

THE PARRY OF TIY.'R.C'^—Photo No. 36. 
In making a parry of tierce hold the foil in pronation. The 
parry covers the same ground as sixte, but in the latter, the foil 
is held in supination. For lunge in tierce see Photo No. 35. 

THE PARRY OF PRIME— /%<;/t;5 Nos. 37, 3S, 39. 
The parry of prime covers the same ground as septime. It is 
then termed " low prime." It may also be used in covering the 
high inside lines, when it is called "high prime." In no other 
parry but this, does it become necessary to change the grip of the 
foil. The parry of prime is made from guard in quarte by moving 
the hand toward the left shoulder, dropping the point down 
sharply and turning the back of the hand upward and outward as 
far as possible. 




No. 17-FOURTH POSITION OF THE GUARD (LEFT HAND). 
[Note -In fifth position of guard (left hand) the body is held in 
same position as above, except that the arms are lowered as in No. 11. 
In sixth position, simply bend at the knees, as in No. 12.] 



Spahiiiii^'s ^If/ihiic Library. 53 

THE PARRY OF SECONDE— /%<?/'c;j Nos. 40, 41, 42. 

In the parry of seconde the foil is also held in pronation. 
The movement differs from the parry of oetave, just as tierce 
(hffers from sixte. l*'or engagement of seconde see Photo 
No. 43. 

Tlie student of fencing should remember that while the move- 
ments involved in the \arious attacks, parries, etc., are described 
in detail, they should be executed so quickl}' and so smoothly that 
they appear to be but one. Jerkiness and slowness are at all 
times to be avoided. The successful fencer must be as supple as 
a snake and as agile as a wildcat. 

THE COUNTER PARRIES. 

Counter parries are circles described around an adversary's foil, 
the purpose of which is to bring it back to the point from which 
it started. The counter of quarle and the counter of prime make 
the circle from right to left. In the ct)unters of sixte and of octave 
the circle is made from left to right. 

There is no cut and dried rule directing the size of the circle 
made by the foil point in a counter parry. The immediate cir- 
cumstances of the encounter determine this. It is well to hold 
your foil, however, as close as possible to the opposing blade if 
you can make use of any of these particular strokes. 

Relative to parries in general. Dr. Edward Breck of the Boston 
Fencing Club, and editor of "The Swordsman," who was the 
author of a previous issue of this book, made some remarks which 
will now be ciuoted. lie said: 

The safest advice is to practice assiduously all the parries, ex- 
cepting perhai)S prime, which is difficult to execute and very little 
used in foil play. As the beginner beconu-s more dexterous he 
lyill soon see for himself what guards are the safest to rely upon. 




No. 18-SEVENTH POSITION OF THE GUARD (LEFT HAND). 



Spa/di flip's AtJiletic Library. 55 

Successful parrying depends to a sreat extent upon a trained in- 
stinct, which enables one to foresee tne direction of the oppon- 
ent's attack, and upon accuracy and judgment in executing a 
movement. The important thing is not to be led off into making 
your parries too wide, for in fencing, as in everything else, the 
conservation of energy is vital. It is easy to see that if, upon 
your adversary's feint in sixte, you allow your blade to tly too far 
off to the right, you will be unal)le to get it back in time to parry 
his real thrust in (luarte. Therefore, begin hy iryinj^ to make your 
parries too narnru\ and only broadening them when you see that 
you are hit too often. At the same time try to avoid moving the 
arm, using the fingers and wrist almost entirely. The greatest 
compliment that can be paid a fencer is to say that his doio:te is 
excellent; /. r.. his finger-play. 

The beginner is recommended to perfect himself in the 
counter parries, and to practice them industriously, as they will 
tire the strongest wrist at first. I shall not describe the complex 
parries at length, as they are but combinations of two or more 
simple parries. A very serviceable one is the counter of quarte 
followed by the parry of sixte; indeed, some fencers almost in- 
variably follow up a counter by some simple parry, in order that, 
if your opponent has foreseen your counter and his point has fol- 
lowed yours around the same circle (called doubling), his event- 
ual thrust in the opposite line will be stopped. 

Strong combinations of this kind are the counter of quarte 
with the parry of octave, and the counter of sixte with the parry 
of septime or seconde. 

The pupil should experiment with all these, for with them 
comes experience, and through experience and trained instinct 
which is the mother of judgment and foresight. 



spa /di //_<:-' s Athletic Library. 57 

THE VALUE OF Flx\GERING. 

The beginner will tlo well to develop the practice of fingering, 
which consists in changing the direction of the foil by relaxing 
or tightening certain of the fingers without altering the general 
position of the hand. Fingering adds to your delicacy and 
finesse. The following exercises in fingering are recommended, 
and should be practiced industriously: 

Being on guard, throw the point of your foil towards the right 
by relaxing the grip of the last two fingers, but without moving 
the hand; then, by replacing the last two fingers, bring the blade 
l)ack to its original position, at the same time giving your adver- 
sary's blade a sharp, but light, dry beat. This will have the ten- 
dency, if he holds his hand as lightly as he shoukl, to throw his 
point off to the right, upon which he executes the same beat upon 
your blade, and so on alternately. 

This capital exercise should be practiced by two beginners for 
at least fifty or a hundred beats at a time, the greatest care being 
taken to use the fingers oidy in moving the foil. 

ENGAGEMENT. 

Engagement is the act of crossing blades with your adversary 
in an opposite line to the one in which you were just engaged 
with him. This is done merely by lowering your point and pass- 
ing it under his blade, using the fingers only, and taking great 
care after completing the movement that you are well covered, 
and that your point is in line with yt)ur adversary's eye. 

THE ATTACK. 
The leading principle of attack is to penetrate or thrust aside 
your opponent's guard, and to hit the front of his jacket with the 
point of your foil. You may seek to attain this end by sheer 




No. 19-WAITING FOR THE ADVERSARY. 



Spaldini^' s Athletic Library. 59 

force, by superior quickness or by strategy. The lunge is the 
most vakiable and the most frequently adopteil form of attack. 

The various modes of attack are susceptible of arrangement in 
groups which better enables them to be treated with due regard 
to their particular attributes. 

PRIMARY ATT.VCKS. 

Primary attack is that begun by yourself, intending to hit by 
means of speed, a feint or through simple strength. In following 
the first of these three methods you endeaver to score by the 
lunge by superior swiftness and perfection of form. Here you do 
not seek to disguise your movement at all. Your object is to 
strike your opposite before he can parry. 

In the first attack you try to mislead }()ur opponent by threaten- 
ing a part of his body other than that you really intend to hit and 
thus attempt to cause him to leave unprotected the latter portion 
of his anatomy. 

When resorting to mere force you attack so violently, yet so 
advisedly, that the man on the defensive is disconcerted or over- 
powered to such an extent that he is unable to guard himself 
successfully. With your vigorous advance you endeaver to turn 
his blade aside, force him ofT his balance and to encircle his 
blade with yours, carrying it to one side. Then you can score 
with the point of your foil. 

SECONDARY ATTACK. 

In the tactics of ofYense described under the caption "Secondary 
Attack" your object is to outmanoeuver your fellow fencer on his 
own advance. 

You may outwit him by anticipating an attack which you 
believe him to be formulating, or working up to, and by a spirited 



S/>a /di ;/<:;'' s ./////< 7/V Lihiary. 6i 

offense, cause him to gi\c up these phins; or you may attack him 
during the development of his scheme of offense, a "time attack." 
In a time attack you meet his advance half way. Lastly, you may 
withhold your forward step and clash with him as he seeks to 
drive his foil to your body. He will now be within thrusting 
range. Your thrust in this case will be a riposte, which is made 
from the parrying position when you stop a primary attack. In 
this stroke you seldom move either foot. "Counter Ripostes" 
are thrusts made directly after parrying a riposte. 

FALSE ATTACKS, A SUPPLEMEXTARY FORM OF 
OFFENSE. 
False or decoy attacks are resorted to merely for the purpose of 
enticing an opponent, as maybe judged from their title. In these 
you do not necessarily need to hmge. "\'our idea is to cause your 
opponent to attack in such a manner that you can parry ijuickly 
and follow with a forceful return. A slight movement of the 
body or foot, or the twitching of the hand or shoulder is some- 
times all that is required. 

THREE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS WHICH 
EVERY FENCER SHOULD OBSERVE. 

The intention of the writer, it is, to delve into the details of 
attack in its numerous forms, \-ariations and combinations and 
before so doing he wishes to impress three true and tried essentials 
on the minds of his readers. 

FIRST. 
Keep the point of the foil below the level of the hand in attack- 
ing the high lines, and above the level of the hand in attacking 
low lines. 




No. 20-FIRST POSITION IN DRAWING THE FOIL-THE 
SALUTE. 



Spa/difio-'s Athletic Library. 63 

SECOND. 
Deliver attacks with a completely straightened arm, that is, the 
arm should be absolutely straight when the foil point reaches, or 
is supposed to reach, its mark. 

THIRD. 

No matter what line you attack always take care to guard, or to 
be in a position to guard, yourself effectively in that line. 

THE TECHNIQUE OF PRIMARY ATTACKS. 

SIMPLE OFFENSE. 

In the manix'uvers included in the primary methods of attack 
the simple ofifense tactics are first to be dealt with. They are 
those made with what may be termed elementary or uninvolved 
movements. They are four in number, viz.: the direct lunge, the 
disengage, the counter-disengage , and the cut-over. 

The Direct Lunge is only used when the adversary exposes 
himself in the line he is engaged in. A simple, straight thrust is 
also used on a feint by the adversary, or at the beginning of his 
attack, but it is then called a stop-thrust or time-thrust, and is a 
secondary attack. 

The straight lunge is not generally used as an opening move by 
advanced fencers because of its unadorned simplicity which would 
rarely prove effective against a veteran so early in a match. To 
reach its target it must be sensationally swift. Concerning this 
form of lunge H. A. Colmore Dunn, the well-known English 
fencing authority, writes as follows : 

"Say, for instance, that you are engaged in quarte and you 
notice that your opponent is carrying his hand too low, you may 
take advantage of this opening by a straight lunge high up. 




No. 21-SECOND MOVEMENT IM DRAWING FOIL. 
[Note— Third i)Osition of rijrlit arm is the same as in first position, 
only in the third the foil is held in outstretched hand.l 



Spaldiu^Q's Athletic Library. 65 

'•Sometimes in dealing with an opponent who is in the habit 
of passing bent arm disengages, a good chance is offered for a 
straight lunge." 

THE DISENGAGE. 
To disengage consists merely in lunging in a line different from 
the one in which you are engaged. This is often used when the 
opponent engages heavily and presses your blade. 

In a disengage use the wrist and fingers, leaving the arm almost 
entirely to itself. You can disengage from any line to any other. 
In order to disengage from one high line to another high line, 
drop your foil point under your opponent's blade. To change in 
this mantcuver from a low line to another low line lift the point 
over his foil. Disengaging from high lines to low lines is per- 
formed by merely droppi'iJ^ the point, and from low to high lines, 
by raising it. 

THE COUNTER DISENGAGE. 
The Counter Disenffai^^e is executed by a circular motion fol- 
lowed by a quick lunge the moment your adversary changes the 
line of engagement. 

For instance, if, while engaged in quarte, your opponent starts 
to engage on the other side, drop your point, and, following his 
blade round by a narrow circular movement, lunge in quarte, 
with your hand opposite (or held) to the left. The effect of a 
counter-disengage is always a lunge on your part in the same line 
in which you were engaged before your opponent started to 
change it. Two counter disengages immediately following one 
another are called a double chani^e. 

THE CUT-OVER, OR FRENCH COUPE. 
The Cut-Over (French coupe) is used to attack the adversary 
in the high lines. It is a disengage executed by passing your 




No. 22-FOURTH MOVEMENT IN DRAWING FOIL. 



Spalding' s Athletic Library. 67 

point over (never under) your adversary's and lunging in the new 
line. The movement of raising your point should be effected by 
the fingers only, and not by drawing back the arm. 

The Cut-Over is a dangerous attack in the hands of a strong, 
quick fencer, for it is difficult to parry and can be changed in- 
stantly into a parry or an attack of a different description. The 
great danger in executing it is to slap, and to throw the point 
wide. To avoid this, practice slowly at first, and be sure to throw 
up your hand when delivering your point. 




No. 23-FIFTH MOVEMENT IN DRAWING FOIL. 



Spaldm^'s Athletic Library. 69 



FEINT ATTACKS 



ONE-TWO. 
Feint attacks make up the second division of primary offensive 
measures. They consist of the One-Two, the One-Tvvo-Three, 
etc., and the Double. The One-Two is performed by lunging in 
the original line of engagement after a dexterous feint. The 
lessons of experience dictate that you must make a determined 
move in the preliminary feint, thus luring your opponent on. 
It is at times advisable to accompany the simulated attack with a 
step with the right foot, as though to accentuate a genuine lunge. 
Advantage is frequently gained by feinting in the high lines and 
delivering the attack in the low lines and also by following 
the exactly reverse method. For a feint in scconde see Photos 
Nos. 44-45. You need not necessarily, however, disengage back 
into the original line threatened. You may, if you choose, carry 
the disengage into any available quarter, as circumstances render 
advisable. 

ONE-TWO-THREE. 
There are times when the One-Two is carried a step further. 
By the interpolation of a third change of line you give it addi- 
tional complication and form the One-Two-Threc. In executing 
this blow you should make the first parry simple as well as the 
second. The best plan is to follow a simple parry with a counter. 
Do this in preference to making consecutive simple parries. You 
can use a counter from the position of the second simple parry, 
however, should you happen to have made a One-Two-Three 
possible by two simple parries. 




No. 24-SIXTH MOVEMENT-PUTTESTG FOIL INTO SCABBARD. 



Spaldhii^' s .{thlctic Library. 71 

THE DOUBLE. 

When you threaten a disengage and the movement meets a 
counter parry instead of a simple parry from your opponent you 
will be unable to resort to the One-Two-Three. You must go 
round the counter parry in order to mislead the rival fencer. As 
an illustration read carefully the following, which is a description 
of the Double, a combination of the feint disengage and the 
counter disengage. 

In an engagement of cjuarte. if, on your feinting a disengage 
into a sixte, the opposer executes the counter of quarte, lift the 
point of your weapon and circle around his counter with a counter 
disengage. In this manner you will find your foil back in sixte, 
the line out of which you were intended to be shut. The double 
is likewise made from high to low lines, from lou to high lines, 
etc. The practice of the double afTords a splendid exercise for 
the wrist and fingers. The novice should repeat the manneuver 
time after time. 

FORCE ATTACKS. 
In the Force attacks, as their name signifies, you must exert 
considerable muscular vigor in your operations. Disregarding 
merely for the moment the absolute requirements of nicety and 
finesse you resort to none the less scientific measures of compara- 
tive violence. Force attacks are subject to variations, of course, 
and the different forms of this branch of the foilsman's art are 
known as the "beat," the "press," the "graze," and the "bind." 

THE BEAT. 
The beat, the press and the graze are the most frequently used. 
In the beat you quickly withdraw your blade (by a movement of 
the wrist, not of the forearm) press your forte against your antag- 
onist's foible, and thus forcing him from the line of cover you 




No 25-WRONG POSITION OF SWORD IN SCABBARD-HILT 
TOO HIGH. 



Spalding s Athletic Library. 'jt^ 

lunge straight into the opening he has left. The beat is some- 
times used as a feint, followed by a disengage. 

The withdrawal of your blade from that of your opponent is, of 
course, a disadvantage to yourself unless you take great pains to 
prevent him from finding an opening. Consequently, do not exe- 
cute the beat with other than the swiftest possible motions. You 
may use the beat in conjunction with a swerving of the foil from 
one line to another, etc., and it can be of service in "re-beating," 
which means to beat an opposing foil now in one line and then in 
another. Also in the re-beat, you can work the first stroke as a 
feint by making it light, doubling the force of your ofifense on 
the second. In this way you will sometimes entirely confuse your 
opponents. 

THE PRESS. 

The press is simpler than the beat, as you exert force with your 
forte on your opponent's foible without the backward movement 
of the hand, and at once lunge into the opening thus secured. 
As time is saved by not withdrawing the hand the press is quicker 
than the beat ; like that attack, however, it is sometimes used as 
a feint. 

Through the fact that you do not carry the foil out of the line 
of engagement in the press it may be said to be less liable than 
the beat to leave your own body unprotected. Power is put into 
the press by the contraction of the muscles of the wrist and the 
tightening of the fingers around the grip. 

THE GRAZE. 
In the graze you raise your wrist, pit your foil's forte against 
the foible of your opponent's weapon and slide your blade, im- 
planting the point in the line at which his foil pummel is pointing. 
The variations of the graze can be learned from an instructor in a 



Spalding's Athletic Library. 7S 

short time. You may use the graze as a feint or suddenly draw 
your foil clear of your adversary's blade and engage in any of the 
lines that present a chance for a score. 

THE BIND. 

The bind is a movement by which you meet the opposite foil 
with yours and carry the blade from either the low lines to the 
high, or from the high lines to the low, etc. As the transposition 
is completed drive home the point of the foil. The force you put 
into the bind keeps your opponent from freeing his blade soon 
enough to score. 

In the bind you apply your forte to his foible. Binds are dan- 
gerous and the beginner will have little if anything to do with 
them. Only two or three are generally made use of. Endeavor 
to keep your opponent's point clear of your body as you carry his 
blade. It is apt to fix in your jacket, should he seek to force a 
lunge home when you are not well prepared. 

Always remember that the great strength of the bind lies in 
keeping your forte to his foible. You can best make the bind 
efifective when your antagonist projects his foil too far in advance 
of his body. In this faulty position you can readily reach his 
foible with your forte. Authorities agree that no hard and fast 
rules can be set down for the parrying of a bind because of the 
fact that they are exceedingly irregular in the degree of force in- 
volved, etc. The best plan of defense seems to be to let your 
opponent carry your foil to the point where he intends thrusting 
home, and then to disconcert him by exercising superior force 
and by thrusting his own blade to one side. 

SECONDARY ATTACKS EXPLAINED. 
In the forms of attack classified in the secondary division the 
principal feature is retaliation. Instead of sharply taking the ini- 




No. 27-THE LUNGE (LEFT HAND). 



Spalding's Athletic Library. >jy 

tiative you await an opponent's attack and endeaver to turn it 
against himself by superior speed or generalship. Or you may 
vary this general mode of procedure in several ways, by attacking 
him while he is in preparation or in the development of his 
oflfense. 

THE RIPOSTE. 

Probably the riposte is the most effective form of secondary 
offense. At any rate it is the most important. It may be com- 
pared to the brilliant retort of a lawyer in putting his opposing 
legal luminary to flight in an important case or to the decisive 
return of a sudden attack by the guns of a warship. Take and 
give, not give and take, is the doctrine of the riposte, and the best 
of the fencer's innate combatative instincts are aroused by oppor- 
tunities to meet an ofTense, defend yourself, and to retaliate 
snappily and tellingly. It is the answer to a challenge, the rise 
to an emergency, the test of spirit, and of what we generally term 
nerve. 

The riposte is executed at such a moment when an adversary has 
reached the limit of his advance, when he has rounded out his 
attack, when he is extended toward you, straining at you in the 
final move of the lunge. Now it is that you will find attack 
opportune. Naturally he cannot recover himself fully in this 
position. He can neither "make good" his attack, as a rule, if 
it has failed on the first onslaught, and he must pause momen- 
tarily, with his foil outstretched, in order to steady or to "set" 
himself for his spring back into a guarding pose. Parrying his 
lunge you deftly drop your point and force it to his body, by 
carrying it, in most cases, along the line of your opponent's 
thrust. For if you sent it wide, he will be given a temporary 
advantage. 

Of course, you must develop the facility of parrying with nicety 



Spaldi7ig's Athletic Library. 79 

before you can hope to execute a riposte successfully and in good 
form. You feel your way, as it were, in the parry, and sensitive 
fingers and wrists, as susceptible to indications of energy as the 
drum of a telephone is to sound waves, are requisities. 

The parry, as a forerunner of a riposte, should of necessity, be 
light and as swift as mountain winds. Also at every move, you 
must feel that you have the foil in entire control, and that your 
body is well balanced. Do not swerve from the line of action you 
map out for yourself for the vacillating, unsteady fencer, whose 
self reliance dissolves into nothingness under pressure, may pos- 
sibly be an ornament, but never a credit, to the ancient profession. 

The suggestion might be made that the fencer parry as close to 
his opponent's body as is consistently possible when a riposte is 
intended. By so doing, your foil point will have just so much 
less distance to travel to reach its target. Every quarter of an 
inch counts, as also docs every fraction of a second. 

As your opponent in his lunge has naturally brought himself 
into reach, you need not advance the right foot in most ripostes. 
You save time and take fewer chances of losing perfect balance 
and form by answering his attack from the position you first 
held. 

Summed up, the chief rules for observance in the riposte are as 
follows : 

Parry effectively, drop your foil point, straighten your arm 
quickly, and be firm and accurate. 

When a fencer becomes comparatively expert, he may with 
safety change the line of a riposte by a single disengage. Always 
put dash and fire into a riposte. Brilliancy of execution adds im- 
measurably to a bout if accuracy be not endangered too greatly. 
Do not hesitate to take a chance now and then, particularly if you 
are a novice, and your style will become more attractive. 



Spaldijio^'s Athletic Library. 8i 

COUNTER RIPOSTES. 

A counter riposte, as its title suggests, is the following of an 
opponent's riposte by a riposte of your own. The movement 
carries the riposte forward another step and with it you may often 
take an adversary unawares, if he is not a veteran. 

The counter riposte is of valuable service on occasions when you 
can manage to "lead on" an opponent who is inclined to be ex- 
citable. By determined action you can place him at your mercy. 
Control and balance are very important. 

ATTACKING BY MEANS OF A DECOY. 

Subterfuge is one of the ruling elements of fencing. You must 
be a past master of false moves and suggestions, and in fact, of all 
branches of simulated action. By a seeming oversight your oppo- 
nent may lead you into an attack on his strongest point. Your 
apparent advantage of the moment may have been given you in 
order that you may assist in your own downfall. Just as the 
astute chess player prepares pitfalls for his rival, so will your 
opponent lay snares for you with his foil, and in sheer self-defence 
you also must become learned in the subtle ways that lead to 
fencing strength. 

In a decoy attack you ofYer an invitation to your opposite to 
enjoy a treat that does not exist. Leave an opening, or, say, 
extend your foil point wide, every nerve of yours, however, feeling 
for his attack, your wrist and fingers ready to snap back your 
weapon to the desired line. Learn your opponent's favorite parries, 
and feint in the lines they cover. As he protects them, let your foil 
seek the opening your experience has taught you he will leave. 

Watch your opponent as a broker eyes the ticker tape when 
stocks are flighty. Observe these two hints which will prove of 
value : 



Spalding' s Athletic Library. 83 

As a rule, when a fencer intends to decoy, he carries his foil 
wider of the supposedly threatened line than would be the case in 
a bona fide attack. He accentuates his feint in order that you 
will be more certain to heed it. Govern yourself accordingly. 
Also, in decoys that you can detect— and practice will help you to 
do so— your adversary will sometimes carry his foil hand so far 
wide that he will be unable to bring it back in time to protect 
himself. Look for this, and attack him on the instant. 

ABSENCE. 

An "absence" is caused by the sudden withdrawal of one of 
the foils when both are engaged in any one line. The pressure 
of one blade against the other acts as a support to each con- 
testant and when one weapon is quickly drawn away the other 
will naturally swing wide, throwing its holder off his balance and 
leaving an opening. The absence really comes under the head 
of "Attacks on Preparation," and may often be resorted to with 
advantage. 

THE ASSAULT. 

The assault is that mode of procedure which in the fencing 
room is usually termed "loose play." The aim of every beginner 
is that he will soon be permitted by his instructor to indulge in 
periods of actual combat, using whatever movements he desires 
and developing originality. The assault is the best possible 
means for developing judgment and versatility. It also enables 
one to judge as to whether or not he has formed a definite style 
of his own. Many a man that performs individual maneuvers 
faultlessly in practice shows all manner of errors in loose play, 
simply because he has not devoted sufficient time and effort to 
the development of the different attacks and defenses. He will 
never attack well in an assault until every move is performed 



Spalding's Athletic Library, 85 

intuitively, as though natural, everyday actions that do not re- 
quire the undivided attention of the mind. 

Many fencers have ruined their form by beginning loose play 
too early in their careers. Lamentable faults have become habit- 
ual and loss of time and speed is distinctly noticeable. The 
golfer should learn the grips and the handling of the different 
sticks, etc., before he enters active competition, and so also 
should the fencer become absolutely familiar with the rudiments 
of foil wielding ere he ventures into the assault. 

On starting in an assault you should always seek to ascertain 
the individual characteristics of your opponent's method. One 
man differs from another. One man's weak points are often 
the strong ones of another. If he is excitable, force the fighting, 
and he will often lose his self-control ; if he is cool and wary, 
meet him with his own game, and do not let him draw you into 
premature attacks, etc. If a man's strongest point is his attack, 
try to keep him on the defensive, and vice versa. 

Vary your tactics. The mechanical fencer is a piece of useless 
furniture. He is like the car horse that follows the same route 
day in and day out. Do not enable your opponent to accurately 
forecast your moves, and surprise him by the variety of your 
attack, etc. Again, do not permit a slow-thinking fencer to per- 
fect his plans. He will be easy to handle when he is on the de- 
fensive but oftentimes proves dangerous when his plans are ma- 
tured and advances into your territory. 

Remember that you should not attempt to score with unneces- 
sary force. Your foil button may have been lost in an inter- 
change, or loosened and the point may penetrate the breast pad 
or the mask. Moreover, in fiercely strong lunges you naturally 
hold the foil very tightly. This practice coarsens your grip and 
gradually deadens the desirable sensitiveness of the fingers. Lean- 



Spalding' s Athletic Library. 87 

ing on the foil after the point has reached its mark is the height 
of folly. 

STABBING AND THE REMISE. 

Fencers are frequently met with who draw back the hand in an 
attack, previous to completing the lunge. The habit of stabbing 
is pernicious. No lasting advantage is ever gained by it and the 
slightest pause awards your opponent an opportunity to reach you 
with a full lunge. 

The stab, however, should not be confounded with the remise. 
The remise may not be indicative of the highest form of fencing, 
but it is allowable, nevertheless, and wins praise when successful. 
The remise differs from the stab in that it is a secondary thrust 
delivered AFTER A LUNGE HAS BEEN EXECUTED AND 
FAILED. The stab, on the contrary, is performed during a 
lunge, or BEFORE the arm and body have been fully extended. 
The remise may turn a miss into a hit, and by holding your lung- 
ing position momentarily after your opponent has evaded your 
attack, you may possibly be able to score by thrusting toward him 
again. If you hold the position too long, however, you will put 
yourself in danger of being hit. 

SCORING. 

The subject of scoring brings up several important questions. 
Endeavor to make your hits clean and indisputable. Sometimes 
a man is robbed of a point because the scorer or umpire has not 
seen it. Either the touch has been too light to be noticed by a 
man several feet away, or a part of the body of either of the 
contestants has been in the line of vision. 

The understood practice among fencers is that the man hit shall 
acknowledge his opponent's hit. Courtesy should always be one 



Spaldi>i,q:'s Athletic Library. 89 

of the accompanying elements of a bout. Be content to yield a 
disputed point rather than to press your claims unduly. 

In match competitions do not hold carelessly to the lunging 
position when you have scored. The umpire may decide in favor 
of your opponent, he possibly having taken advantage of your 
lapse from vigilance and hit you in return. Correct and just 
scoring in fencing is a difficult proposition, and after all officials 
are only human. 

If both combatants should happen to make simultaneous hits 
the point is placed to the credit of the man making the last 
parry. Suppose, for instance, that you lunge at a man and he 
parries, choosing not to riposte. Now, if you successfully re- 
mise the point is yours. On the other hand, should your antagon- 
ist riposte from the parry he scores a hit, the remise proving 
valueless, even if it reache'd its mark prior to the delivery of the 
riposte. Noticeable hesitation in delivering the latter, however, 
disqualifies. When a fencer has been disarmed in an engage- 
ment, he cannot be scored against unless he is hit fairly before 
his weapon strikes the floor. 

THE GRAND SALUTE. 

The assault and the grand salute may well be said to go hand in 
hand on many occasions during exhibitions. The salute consists 
of a series of maneuvers performed without a mask, and which 
are given preparatory to an assault. 

The salute includes practically all the major movements of 
attack and defense and its purpose is undoubtedly to show the 
onlookers the various features of the display about to be put 
before them in the actual bout. In the salute every action 
should show perfect balance and control. At no other time is a 
fencer in a more exposed situation. He is on show, and like the 



Spalding's Athletic Library, 91 

blue ribbon winners at the horse exhibits, he should "step" his 
prettiest. 

The salute is subject to variations, and complex maneuvers 
may be introduced. Every instructor should take pains to 
teach his pupils the snlutc and make certain that in it they attain 
advanced proficiency. 

A description of the grand salute which has been given the 
approval of authorities is as follows : 



THE GRAND SALUTE. 

"The two opponents come forward, equipped in all respects for 
assault, with the exception of the masks, which they carry in the 
left hand, and place on the ground beside them on the left. 

"Then, standing face to face, foil in hand, just out of lunging 
range of the one with the longer reach, the two opponents to- 
gether assume the preliminary position, and thence proceed to the 
position of guard, engaging their blades in quarte, foible to foible, 
before advancing the right foot. 

"Thereupon, one of the two, either the more honorable or the 
one chosen by agreement beforehand, proceeds to measure the 
distance between himself and his opponent, while the other goes 
back to the preliminary position in order to leave the way open. 

"The one who is selected to open the attack takes distance in 
the following manner: First he comes to the upright position, 
then straightens his arm with the hand well raised up and in 
supination, and then lunges out so as to bring its point close up 
to the defender's breast, but without touching it. 

"After taking distance, the assailant resumes the upright posi- 
tion, and draws back the hilt of his foil close to and on a level 
with his mouth, the point directed straight upward. The de- 



Spalding s Athletic Library. 93 

fender, watching his actions, lowers the hilt of his foil so as to 
take up a like position at the same time. 

"Then hoth together proceed to salute, first to left then to right, 
as follows : They begin by showing the parry of quarte, carrying 
hand, arm, and point further over to the left than in the ordinary 
way of forming the parry, so as to emphasize the movement; 
then, on the return from the parry, they bring the hand back on 
a level with the mouth, and, changing the hand into pronation by 
a turn of the wrist, show the parry of tierce in a like pronounced 
manner. 

"After this both the opponents go through the movements neces- 
sary to bring them from the preliminary position to that of guard, 
as before, crossing the blades previously to advancing the right 
foot. 

"The assailant then proceeds to pass a series of disengages— 
say four— to which the defender offers the corresponding parries. 

"Thus, the assailant disengages into sixte, and as the arm is 
straightened in that line, the defender parries tierce with a crisp 
tap, taking care not to harsh his blade. On feeling the parry, 
the assailant smartly reverses his foil, turning the point toward, 
and so as to pass close beside his left ear, the hilt resting on 
the back of the hand, and the grip being held by the thumb and 
first finger only, while the other fingers are ranged beneath the 
first ; and he lunges in with the pummel directed toward the de- 
fender, whom he keeps in view by carrying his hand far enough 
to the left to leave an opening between arm and blade. 

"In order to make way for the lunge, the defender drops his 
point from the parry of tierce so as to show the parry of 
octave, only carrying the point far enough across the body of the 
assailant to avoid hitting him on the move forward. 

"On the assailant's recovering from the lunge, the opponents 



S/>a/dif//^'s Athletic Library. 95 

form the engagement of sixte or tierce. Again the assailant dis- 
engages, and, on the parry of quarte from the defender reverses 
his foil as before, but directs the point toward and clear of his 
right ear, and in lunging with the pummel toward the defender, 
his hand is carried far enough to the right to enable the assailant 
to see him between blade and arm. 

"Here, to make way for the lunge, the defender shows the parry 
of septime, carrying the point across the body of the assailant to 
the other side. 

"The remaining disengages are given and received with a repe- 
tition of the same movements as in the first two disengages. 

"In delivering the first and last lunges, the assailant dwells a 
little time ; but he passes the intermediate disengages as fast as 
possible. 

"On recovering from the last lunge, the assailant shows a one — 
two without lunging, and the defender shows the parry of tierce, 
so that on this occasion the blades do not come in contact ; and 
then both of them resume the upright position, the assailant rais- 
ing his point as in the preliminary position, and the defender pro- 
ceeding to imitate in all respects the actions of the assailant in 
taking distance. 

"This done, the former defender becomes in his turn the assail- 
ant, and the latter now assumes the character of defender, each 
of them going through the same movements as his predecessor in 
the past, saluting in quarte and tierce, disengaging and parrying 
as before laid down. 

"On the feint one — two of the now assailant, both opponents re- 
sume the upright position and fall on guard, not in the usual way, 
but with a backward movement of the left foot about twice its 
own length, and with the hand in the position of tierce. 

"Next they both beat twice with the right foot, resume the up- 



SpaldiJi^s;' s Athletic Library. 97 

right position by bringing the left heel up to the right, and salute 
in quarte and tierce. 

"In conclusion, both opponents come on guard as from the pre- 
liminary position, beat twice with the right foot, bring the left 
heel to the right, and salute one another by carrying the hilt up 
to a level with the mouth, the point directed upward, and then 
lowering hand and point to the position of seconde." 




4H4 



Spaldiuir's Athletic Library. 90 



HINTS ON THE HANDLING OF THE 
SABRE' 



The sabre's blade is divided into edge, point, back, heel and 
tongue, the last-named part being that piercing the handle. The 
handle is divided into a guard and a grip. 

TO HOLD A SABRE. 
Grasp the sabre firmly with the fingers, placing the thumb along 
the back of the grip. 

PRELIMINARY POSITION. 
Stand with the heels together and the feet at right angles, the 
right arm extending down near to but not touching the body, and 
the point of the sabre four inches from the floor. Prom this posi- 
tion three movements are necessary. 

TO COME ON GUARD. 

1. Raise the right arm until the sabre, in a straight line with 
it, is horizontally extended toward the opponent's head, nails 
downward, and the hand opposite your own eyes. 

2. Execute two vertical moulinets, first to the left and then to 
the right, and bring your hand, nails down, and the arm half bent, 
opposite your shoulder, your point being directed toward your ad- 
versary's eye. 

3. Bend the legs and advance the right foot from twenty inches 

to two feet. 

MOULINETS 

Are circles cut in the air by the sabre from right to left or from 

left to right, the hand being reversed in the process. 

* Note - Revised from a previous edition of this book written by Dr. 
Edward Breck, L. ■^ IL 



Spalding's Athletic Library. 101 

VERTICAL MOULINETS 

Are circles made by letting the sabre fall forward and around 
vertically, the blade coming up either on the right or left side of 
your body. At the end of a moulinet (pronounced moolinay) 
the arm should be fully extended. 

THE UPPER CUT 
Is a vertical moulinet executed by letting the blade fall backward 
instead of forward. 

The Advance, Retreat, Recovery and Calls are the same as 
those in foil practice. 

THE LUNGE 
Is usually begun by a moulinet or under-cut. The legs and body 
advance as in foil practice. The left hand in sabring is always 
held in the small of the back, usually grasping the belt or strap. 

THE ATTACK 
Is either simple or compound. The simple attack consists of the 
thrust, and cuts at different parts of the head and body. 

HEAD CUT. 
Raising your point over your opponent's blade, extend the arm, 
and cut down onto your adversary's head, drawing back your 
hand so as to make the edge cut- Get back on guard with the 
greatest quickness. Opposition should be used in every sabre cut 
and lunge, as in foil. 

LEFT CHEEK CUT. 
Raising your point over your opponent's blade, extend your 
arm, turning the hand to quarte, and execute a drawing cut on 
your adversary's left cheek. Recover quickly. 



Spaldifi_s:'s Athletic Library. 103 

RIGHT CHEEK CUT. 
The Right Cheek Cut is executed when on guard in quarte. 

BREAST CUT. 
This is Hke the Cheek Cut. excepting that the object of the 
slash is the chest. 

THIGH CUT. 
This is like the preceding, only its object is the adversary's 
thigh. Of course the opponent's right breast, waist, flank, and 
thigh can also be attacked, the movements, from the regular 
guard, not requiring the avoiding of his blade; but these attacks 
are somewhat easier to parry. 

POINT THRUST. 
Drop your point under, extend, and lunge quickly, the edge of 
the sabre being turned up. 

WAIST OR GIRDLE CUT. 
Carry your point under the adversary's blade, extend the arm, 
turning the hand to quarte, and execute the drawing out across 
his waist. Recover as always. 

FLANK CUT. 
Drop your hand, extend, and slash the adversary's hip. 

ARM CUT. 
There are several ways of executing this. You may use a com- 
bination of the glide and press and cut the upper side of the 
adversary's arm, turning your hand over as you strike. You 
may force his blade aside with a beat and cut in sharply. You 




THE "CORPS-A-CORPS."-B. 
[NoTE-Where two fencers come into quarters as close as above 
the referee separates them.] 



Spalding s Athletic Library. 105 

may pass under his blade, extend your arm. turning the hand, and 
cut his wrist or forearm. 

This cut is a very good one when the adversary's guard is care- 
less. 



THE PARRIES. 
All parries are made by catching the adverse blade on the heel 
of your sabre, and edge to edge. 



HEAD PARRY. 
Hold your weapon horizontally in front of the crown of your 
head. 

CHEEK PARRY. LEFT OR RIGHT. 
To parry a cut at your left cheek, raise your hand to a position 
opposite the left breast and a few inches from it, the sabre blade 
pointing upward, forward, and a trifle toward the right. The 
Right Cheek Parry is the same, only executed on the right side- 
The cheek parries are nlso used against shoulder cuts. 



BREAST AND GIRDLE PARRIES. 
Hold the sabre forearm horizontally across the upper chest, the 
blade hanging almost vertically, about six inches from the body, 
the edge toward the left. 



FLANK PARRY. 

Hold the hand just beyond the body at the right, opposite the 
waist, the blade pointing downward, the edge to the right. 



Spaldifii^'s Athletic Library. 107 

TO PARRY POINT THRUSTS 
Use the common parries of tierce, qiiarte, or, in the low lines 
seconde. 

TO AVOID ARM CUTS 
Draw your sabre hand back out of range, or oppose your blade in 
time. 

AVOID THIGH CUTS 
By escaping to the rear, or, in other words, by withdrawing the 
leg which is attacked. This is well to practise, although, as a 
matter of fact, no cuts are counted below the hip by the rules 
of the A. F. L. A. 

THE RIPOSTE. 

Never riposte until you arc sure of being covered, or that your 
adversary's blade is not in dangerous proximity. Riposte at the 
nearest or most exposed part of your opponent's person, which 
is most frequently his arm. 

THE TIME THRUST 
Is an attack on the adversary's development, and is either a 
Point Thrust or an Arm Cut. On his Head Cut you can escape 
and slash his arm. Also upon his Thigh or Waist Cut. On his 
Flank Cut execute a Point Thrust at his breast with strong op- 
position. 

THE STOP THRUST 
Is an attack on the adversary's preparation. It is usually a Point 
Thrust or Arm Cut aimed at the nearest part of the adversary's 
person the instant he begins his attack. The Stop Thrust should 
be followed by an escape to the rear, in order to avoid being hit 
at the same time. 



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Spa/diui^'s Athletic Library. 109 

COMPOUND ATTACKS 
Are, of course, the numerous combinations of the simple one 
already described, and are met by one of the simple parries or a 
series of them. Experience will soon put the beginner on the 
right track, both in the matter of feints and parries. 

GENERAL REMARKS. 
When fencing with the sabre be sure that you are well pro- 
tected, for some nasty cuts can be dealt with even a dull blade. 
The neck and right arm especially should be carefully padded, 
and the mask strong. The rules of sabre matches will be found 
in the accompanying laws of the A. F. L. A. 




No. 37-PARRY OF PRIME. 



Spaldhigs Athletic Library. 



FENCING RULES OF THE AMATEUR 
FENCERS' LEAGUE OF AMERICA 



FOILS. 

1. Foil competition shall be conducted by three, five or seven 
judges (one of whom shall act as director) for each bout, who 
shall be experienced Amateur Fencers, selected from different 
clubs, if possible, and whose decision shall be final and without 
appeal. There shall also be a timer, who shall time the bouts 
in accordance with Rule 3. 

2. Each contestant shall fence a bout with every other contest- 
ant, except when the total number of entries for finals exceed 
seven, in which case semi-finals shall be held. The contestants 
shall be divided by lot into sections of from four to six each, and 
the two highest men in each section shall meet in the finals. 

3. Each bout shall consist of four minutes actual fencing, and 
contestants shall change positions after two minutes. Contest- 
ants shall come on guard, in the middle of the space, at the com- 
mand of a judge. In case the judges cannot decide, contestants 
shall meet for an extra assault of two minutes duration, chang- 
ing sides at the end of one minute. 

4. Each judge shall make his award without consulting his 
fellow judges, taking into account the general bearing of the com- 
petitors, the number and value of touches, and the general form 
shown in defense and attack. The majority vote of the judges 
shall decide the winner of the assault to whom shall be given one 
point. 

5. Touches shall count only when made upon the body, within 
the limits bounded by the collar of the fencing jacket, the medium 
line, the hip, and a line drawn from the hip to the posterior limit 




No, 38-WRONG POSITION FOR PARRY OF PRIME-STAND- 
ING TOO STRAIGHT-LEGS TOO STIFF, ETC. 



Spalding's Athletic Library. 113 

of the armpit around the front of the arm and along the crest 
of the shoulder to the collar. A touch on any part of boundary 
lines shall count. 

6. The competitor attack should parry. If a stop thrust be 
made it shall only count in favor of the giver, provided he be not 
touched at all. 

7. A touch whether fair or foul invalidates the riposte. 

8. A touch is of no value when the point is twisted on to the 
body after the slap of the foil. 

9. The judge Diiist stop a corps-a-corps as soon as made. 

10. A disarmament is of no value. A touch immediately fol- 
lowing a disarmament counts. 

11. A point scored from a thrust started with the elbow behind 
the body (jab thrusts) shall not count. 

12. Each contestant shall fence with the same hand throughout 
the bout. 

13. Competitors shall wear clean white fencing suits. The 
jacket of each competitor must be covered with chamois within 
lines described wdiere touches count. (See Rule 5.) 

14. Contestants shall fence within a marked space of twenty 
feet long and thirty-six inches wide, with a mark plainly indicat- 
ing the middle. 

When a contestant oversteps these limits a judge shall stop 
the bout and each judge shall award a touch to the opponent of 
the man overstepping these limits, and the director shall start the 
contestants again, in the middle of the marked space. 

15. Foil blades shall not exceed thirty-four inches in length. 

16. Contestants must acknowledge all touches in an audible 
voice. If a contestant persistently fails to acknowledge touches, 
the judges may award two touches tO' his opponent for each 
oflfense. 



Spaldifii^^s .Ithlctic Library. 115 

DUELING SWORDS. 

1. Dueling sword competitions shall be conducted by three or 
five judges for each bout, who shall be experienced Amateur 
Fencers, selected from different clubs, if possible, and whose de- 
cision shall be final and without appeal. 

2. Each contestant shall fence a bout with every other contest- 
ant for one touch. Each touch shall count one point. 

3. A judge, upon seeing a touch, shall stop the bout, and there- 
upon a vote shall be taken. A touch shall be awarded only 
upon the agreement of a majority of the judges. Neither judges 
nor contestant shall discuss the touches made or claimed, nor 
shall any comment be made upon them. 

4. Sword tips shall be chalked merely to aid the judges in 
arriving at a decision; a chalk mark is not conclusive evidence of 
a touch. 

5. The contestant receiving the lowest number of touches shall 
be declared the winner, the next lowest second, and so on. 

6. A touch on any part of the adversary counts. 

7. A disarmament is of no value. A touch immediately follow- 
ing a disarmament counts. 

8. If both contestants are touched simultaneously, the judges 
shall declare a touch against each man. If. however, it is clear 
to the majority of the judges that one touch is perceptibly ahead 
of the other, the touch shall be considered good. 

9. The diameter of the bell-guard shall not exceed five inches, 
and the blade shall not be more than thirty-four inches long. 

10. Each competitor shall wear a dark fencing suit and dark 
gloves. 

SABRE. 
I. A bout shall be for a total of seven touches, each touch to 
count one point. In addition the judges may award any part of 



.11.11 mmm ■■Ill- - - ■■|^^HMpi|piPHi^BanH| 

V '"Pi ^1 



Spa/difij^'s Athletic Library. 117 

three points for form, to each contestant. Cut or thrust on any 
part of the body above the hips shall count, and the limitation of 
space shall not be imposed, nor shall there be any restriction, as 
to color of costume. 

2. Sabre blades shall not be more than thirty-three inches long. 

3. The judges shall have power to prohibit the use of any un- 
usual guard which may give a competitor an advantage over his 
adversary. 

An amateur fencer, as defined by the Amateur Fencers' League 
of America, is one who has never competed for money in public 
or private exhibition nor given instructions for money. A 
fencer who is known to frequently assist an instructor, or who is 
known to habitually attend a salle d'armes, assisting an in- 
structor in the discharge of his duties, whether such assistance 
or work be paid for or not, cannot be considered an amateur. 




No. 41-INCORRECT PARRY OF SECONDE. 



Spalditicr' s Athletic Library 



119 



EQUIPMENTS FOR FENCING 



The c'ciuipnicnt of a fencer should be selected from articles of 
good quality. Cheap supplies will prove the most expensive in 
the long run, for they will have to be replaced. The primary 
requisites are a jacket, a mask, foils and gloves. The jacket 
should be made of cither canvas or leather, stiff enough to prevent 
serious injury from a heavy blow 
or from the jagged edges of a foil 
that should happen to break. Your 
throat must be well protected, 
therefore it is very necessary that 
the jacket have a high collar. 
There ought to be no space what- 
ever between the lower edge of the 
mask and the top of your collar. 
The point of a foil will find its 
way through even the smallest of 
crevices and too many precautions 
cannot be taken. 

As a rule jackets are padded 
so as to form a safe defense. 

When engaging in combat with a novice a side pad had best be 
worn. He is apt to be wild in his thrusts at times and you can- 
not afYord to take chances. On the jacket should be sewn a heart 
shaped piece of scarlet cloth to form a target. 

Spalding jackets are made of special quality brown canvas, 
with collar. There are buttons at cufTs, collar and left side. The 
Spalding jackets are well made in every respect and are of two 




FENCING JACKET. 



7^ nb^^HHB^'f^ 


9^B 


m 




fm.-»?«-..f 


^l"'i'"'" 


i 


^vc^\^ jg 




pH 




I^LMia^^W iMtk^Sawi^^H 



121 



Sp<7/dif/i;'s .{fhlctic Library 

qualities — canvas, at $3.50, and 
moleskin, at $4.50. Spalding 
plastrons, heavily padded and 
quilted and bearing a scarlet 
heart in the upper middle, for 
target purposes, may be had 
for $2.00 and $2.50. 

Every fencer should take 
especial care in the matter of 
his mask. It is best made of 
strong wire and framed firmly. 
Never use one in which the 
wires have spread in places if 

you value your eyesight and 

f . , ,. T • * *i . FENCING PLASTRONS, 

facial comeliness. Insist that 

the tabs or flaps cover the ears and do not be content without a 

good lit. Nothing is more disconcerting than a mask that con- 





Face Guard, 



Face and Ear Guard. 



Face, Ear and Forehead Guard. 



tinually bobs about on the head. The cost of a pair of Spalding 
masks, face guard, is $2.50; face and ear guards, $3.00; and face, 



Spalding's Athletic Library. 123 

ear and forehead guards, $3.50. Helmets made of heavy wire and 
well padded, cost $10.00 per pair, and a mask for heavy or light 
sabre fencing, made in the most practical style, equipped with sole 





Heavy Wire Helmet. 



For Sabre Use. 

leather conical head and car protection and heavy wire forehead 
shield, well ventilated and thoroughly padded, with special throat 
protector, cost $20.00 per pair. 

But one glove is needed by the fencer. He uses it on his 
fencing hand as a means of protection. A stiff leather cufT or 




FENCING GLOVE. 




.Si*fecuil 



Spaldinfr's Athletic Library 

gauntlet is attached lo 
guard the wrist. 
Chfxjse a glove that is 
neither stiff nor cum- 
bersfjme. The move- 
ments of your wrist 
and fingers must not 
be impeded in the 
least. The glove is of 
course padded and you 
should take care that 
the filling isdistributed 
'HK in an intelligent man- 
ner, V) as not to put 
the hand in a sort oi 
box, which will surely 





FEKCIi.'G ijU/.'Y^i. 




o -^ 
2: ^ 



O to 

Q 0) 



Spaldiuil's Athletic Library. 127 

rob It of the much to be desired and absohitely necessary 
sensitiveness. 

Spalding gloves are of varied sorts. French duelling gloves, 
soft leather, red or brown, are $2.00 each. A special ladies' 
fencing glove is sold for $1.00. Fencing gloves with no gauntlet 
may be purchased at Spalding's for $1.00. Gloves with a cuf¥ 
gauntlet are $1.25, and with gauntlet to elbow, $1.50 each. A 
full padded glove, with extra long cuff for sword and rapier manip- 
ulation, costs $2.50. 

The foil is of steel, light and tapering, and should have a button 
at its end. The blade is (luadrangular in shape, is about thirty- 




THE SFALDING SPECIAL ITALIAN PATTERN FOIL. 




THE SPALDING SPECIAL DETACHABLE FOIL. 
Blade can be removed instantly by merely detaching pommel. 

three or thirty-four inches long, and is divided into two parts, the 
forte and the foible. The forte consists of the section extending 
from the hilt to one-third of the length of the steel. The foible 
is the remaining two-thirds, reaching to the point. Naturally 
the forte is thicker than the foible. From the hilt to the inward 
end of the foil extends the tongue, which is covered with a 
wooden frame called the grip. The grip is shaped to the con- 
formation of the hand, permitting a firm grasp, and yet one that 



128 



Spaldmgs Athletic Library. 




Figrure 8" Guard. 




'* Bell " Guard. 
FOIL HANDLES. SHOWING TWO STYLES OF GUARDS. 



Spalding s Athletic Library. 129 

may easily be changed to suit varying circumstances. The grip 
should not be too short. The cramping of the fingers produces 
unsatisfactory results in addition to tiring the hand and arm. 
Then, too, a little leeway may be put to good use at times. It 





THE SPALDING SPECIAL 
DUELLING SWORD. 



Haute Rapier. Ck>mbat Sword. 

FENCING SWORDS. 



enables you to unexpectedly lengthen your reach when such a 
maneuver would seem to give an advantage. 

The foils themselves may be low priced, but it is advisable that 
you do not fail to equip yourself with blades of first class quality. 
A second rate weapon will be apt to snap, by reason of flaws or 



130 Spalding s ^Ithleiic Library. 

poor temper, and, moreover, when bent, it will not always permil 
straightening to its former accuracy of shape. 




Regulation Style. 




Vienna Style. 




Italian Style. 




Wood. 
BROADSWORDS. 



Spalding's foils and swords are so infinite in variety that the 
prospective purchaser v/ould best seek information in one of the 
regular catalogues issued by the firm. Foils graduate in price 
from $1.25 per pair to $15.00 per pair. 




A. G. SPALDING & BROS.' LONDON HOUSE 
53, 54, 55, FETTER LANE. E. C. 




Nickel-plated bell guard, leather covered handle, trimmings 

nickel-plated, Solingen 34 inch blade. 

No. 15. Per pair, $2.75 

Nickel-plated and buffed bell guard, leather covered handle, 

trimmings nickel-plated and polished, selected Coulaux blade, 

34 inch. 

No. 19. Per pair. $3.50 

Reinforced bell guard, all trimmings nickel-plated and highly 

polished, leather covered handle, fine 34 inch engraved blade. 

No. 23. Per pair, $5.00 

Ladies' Foil, small bell guard and all trimmings nickel-plated 

and polished, leather covered handle, fine 34 inch engraved blade. 

No. 24L. Per pair, $4.00 

Handsomely illustrated catalogue of athletic goods mailed free 
to any address. 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York Chicago St. Louis WasViington San Francisco 

Boston Minneapolis Baltimore Kansas City Montreal, Can. 

Buffalo Philadelphia Denver Pittsburg London, England 



FENCING FOILS 



14L 







1 Special "Club" Foil 



Iron mountings, "figure 8" guard, corded handle. 
No. 7. Per pair. $1.25 

Japanned mountings, "figure 8" guard, leather covered handle, 

japanned pommel and 34-inch Solingen blade. 

No. 11. Per pair, $2.50 

Special "Club" Foil, nickel-plated and polished, improved 

"figure 8" guard and pommel, leather covered handle and 34 

inch Coulaux blade. 

No. 17. Per pair, $4.00 

Ladies' Foil, nickel-plated and poHshed, "figure 8" guard, 

plush covered handle, mountings polished and plated, engraved 

32 inch blade. 

No. 14L. Per pair, $4.00 

Send for Spalding's handsomely illustrated catalogue 
of all sports. Mailed free to any address. 



New York 

Boston 

Buffalo 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 

Chicago St. Louis Washington San Francisco 

Minneapolis Baltimore Kansas City 
Philadelphia Denver Pittsburg 



Montreal, Can. 
London, England 



FENCING SWORDS 




No. 15 



No. 10. 
No. 15. 
No. 20. 
No. 25. 



No, 10 

Haute Rapier, finest steel. 
Combat Sword, regulation style. 
Broadswords, regulation style. 
Broadswords, Vienna style. 



No. 20 



No. 25 

Per pair, $8.00 
6.50 
10.00 
10.00 



Send for Spalding's handsomely illustrated catalogue 
of all sports. Mailed free to any address 



New York 

Boston 

Buffalo 



C. SPALDING & BROS. 



Chicago 

Minneapolis 

Philadelphia 



St. Louis 
Baltimore 
Denver 



Washington 
Kansas City 
Pittsburg 



San Francisco 
Montreal, Can. 
London, England 



THE SPALDING 
SPECIAL DETACHABLE FOIL 




No. IX. Nickel-plated and polished fittings, selected 34-inch 
Coulaux blade, handles specially corded. This foil is etiiiippcd 
with a special "figure 8" guard. Blade can be removed 
instantly by merely detaching pommel. . Per pair, $5.00 

Mxtra blades for detachable foil; special Coulaux, full 
polished Each, $1.00 



FENCING STICKS 



No. 40. Sticks, complete. . 
No. 41. Willow Basket Handles 
No. 42. Hickory Sticks only. 



Send for Spalding's handsomely illustrated catalogue 
of all sports. Mailed free to any address. 




A. C. SPALDING & BROS 



New York Chicago St. Louis 

Boston Minneapolis Baltimore 

Buffalo Philadelphia Denver 



Washington 
Kansas City 
Pittsburg 



San Francisco 
Montreal, Can. 
London, England 



THE SPALDING 
SPECIAL ITALIAN PATTERN FOIL 




No, 2X. Nickel-plated and highly polished fittings, best 
quality flat blade, grip of hard wood with engraved checker- 
ing or sharkskin covered, special reinforced bell guard, with 
steel finger cross-piece and lined with velvet covered pad. 
Blade can be removed instantly by merely detaching 
pommel. This foil is the product of one of the best 
makers in Europe, and not a copy of domestic manu- 
facture Per pair, $15.00 

Extra blades for Italian pattern foil, flat style, best 
quality Each, $1.50 



fFOIL BLADES 
No. A. Fine Solingen Steel Blades, 34-inch. Each, 75c. 
No. B. Fine Coulaux Steel Blades, 34-inch. " 75c. 
No. c. No. C. Rubber Foil Buttons. . . Per pair, 10c. 



Send for Spalding's handsomely illustrated catalogue 
of all sports. Mailed free to any address. 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York Chicago St. Louis Washington San Francisco 

Boston Minneapolis Baltimore Kansas City Montreal, Can. 

Buffalo Philadelphia Denver Pittsburg London, England 



THl', SPALDING 
SPECIAL DUIUXING SWORD 




Nickel-plated and polished fittings, fine quality 
three cornered blades, handle leather covered and 
wound with silver cord, reinforced 5 inch bell 
guard, heavy pommel, ornamented. Well made 
and of superior quality throughout. 

No. 4X. Per pair, $7.00 

Extra blades for duelling swords, three cornered, 
best quality. Each, $2.00 



Send for Spalding's handsomely illustrated catalogue 
of all sports. Mailed free to any address. 



A. C. SPALDING Sl BROS. 

New York Chicago St. Louis Washington San Francisco 

Boston Minneapolis Baltimore Kansas City Montreal. Can. 

Buffalo Philadelphia Denver Pittsburg London, England 





€ 


BROADSWORDS 


No. :!.-. 


No. 


i 

35. 


Italian style. 


Per pair, 


N... no 

$10.00 


No. 


30. 


Wood. 


< ( 


2.00 






SWORD 


BLADES 




No. 


1. 


For Rapier No 


. 10. . . Each 


, $1.25 


No. 


1 1-2. For Sword No. 


15. 




i i 


1.50 


No. 


2. 


For Sword No. 


20. 




a 


2.00 


No. 


3. 


For Sword No. 


25. 




i i 


2.50 


No. 


4. 


For Sword No. 


35. 




i ( 


2.50 




Spalc 


ing's handsomely illustrated catalogue of athletic goods 






mailed free to 


any address. 








A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 




New York 

Boston 

Buffalo 


Chicago St. Louis Washington San Francisco 
Minneapolis Baltimore Kr'nsas City Montreal, Can. 
Philadelphia Denver Pittsburg London, England 




No. 3 



FENCING 
MASKS 

Extra Fine Quality, Close ]\Icsh. 



Face Guard only. 
No. 1. Per pair, $2.50 

Face and Ear Guards. 
No. 2. Per pair, $3.00 

Face, Ear and Forehead 
Guards. 

No. 3. Per pair, $3.53 



Send for Spalding's handsomely illustrated 

catalogue of all sports. Mailed 

free to any address. 



A. C. SPALDiNC & BROS. 

New York Chicago St. Louis Washington San Francisco 

Boston Minneapolis Baltimore Kansas City Montreal Can. 

Buffalo Philadelphia Denver Pittsburg t ,.„^.„ v.„i.. 



London, England 



FENCING MASKS 

Extra Fine Quality, Close Mesh. 





No. 4 

Helmet, heavy wire, well padded. 
No. 4. Per pair, $10.00 

Mask for heavy or light sabre fencing. Most 
practical style made. Equipped with sole leather 
conical head and ear protection and heavy wire 
forehead shield, well ventilated and thoroughly 
padded, with special throat protector. 
No. 50. Per pair, $20.00 

Spalding's handsomely illustrated catalogue of athletic goods 
mailed free to any address. 



C. SPALDING & BROS. 



New York 

Boston 

Buffalo 



Chicago 

Minneapolis 

Philadelphia 



St. Louis 
Baltimore 
Denver 



Washington 
Kansas City 
Pittsburg 



San Francisco 
Montreal, Can. 
London, England 



SPALDING'S FENCING JACKETS 

Made of special quality brown 
canvas, with collar. Buttons 
at cuffs, collar and left side. 
A'cli made and an excellent 
• garment in every respect. 



o . C . Canvas F c n c i n l; 
Jacket. . . Each, $3.50 







Xo. M. Same as above, but 
made of good quality mole- 
skin. . . Each, $4.50 



FENCING SHOES 



Xo. L. Buckskin upi)er, red goat trimmings, elkskin 
sole. ..... Per pair, $7.50 



N^o. L\V. Same as No. L, in women's sizes. 



7.50 



Xo. 166. Low cut shoe, selected leather, extra light, and 
elkskin sole. .... Per pair, $2.50 

Xo. I. Low cut canvas, patent rubber soles. " 1.25 

Spalding-'s handsomely illustrated catalogue of athletic goods 
mailed free to any address. 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York Chicago St. Louis Washington San Francisco 

Boston Minneapolis Baltimore Kan.sas City Montreal, Can. 

Buffalo Philadelphia Denver Pittsburg London, England 




FENCING 

PLASTRONS 

HEAVILY PADDED AND 
QUILTED. 



Covering chest and 
right side. 

No. 2. Each, $2.00 

Covering chest and 
right and left side. 

No. 3. Each, $2.50 

For women ; same style 
as No. 3. 

No. 3L. Each, $2.50 



Handsomely illustrated catalogue 

of athletic goods mailed 

free to any address. 



A. C. SPALDING <&, BROS. 



New York 

Boston 

Buffalo 



Chicago 

Minneapolis 

Philadelphia 



St. Louis 
Baltimore 
Denver 



Washington 
Kansas City 
Pittsburg 



San Francisco 
Montreal, Can. 
London, England 



FENCING GLOVES 




Heavily Padded. 




No. 5 No. 3 

No. 5. Full padded, with extra long leatlu i 
cuffjor sword or rapier fencing. Each, $2. 50 No. 2 

No. 3. Gauntlet to elbow. . . . Each, $1.50 

No. 2. Cuff Gauntlet. . . . . " 1-25 

No. 1. No Gauntlet. . . . . ''1.00 



New York 

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Buffalo 



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Philadelphia 



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Baltimore 
Denver 



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Pittsburg 



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Montreal, Can. 
London, England 



FRENCH 
DUELLING GLOVES 

{J\rousquetaii-e Pattern) 





No. 6 No. D 

Made of special soft leather, red or brown in color. Back of 

glove and fingers lightly padded. Extra long soft gauntlet. 

No. D. Each, $2.00 

SPECIAL LADIES' FENCING GLOVE 

Made of white or bnfif colored buck leather, unpadded, nexil)lc 

gauntlet. 

No. 6. Each, $1.00 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 



New Yoi-k Chicago 
Boston Minneapolis 

Buffalo Philadelphia 



St. Louis WasViing-ton 
Baltimore Kansas City 
Denver Pittsburg 



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PRICE BY 

MAIL 
lo CENTS 

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Sports 

Publishing 

Co. 

1 6' 1 8 Park 

Place 
New York 



nPen ninutes' Exercise "| 

Dr. Luther Guiick for Busy Hen 

Dr. Guiick says: "The experi- 
ence of years has demonstrated the 
efficiency of the exercises contained 
in 'Ten Minutes' Exercise for Busy 
Men ' in securing the ends for a\ !:ich 
they were devised. Many letters 
have been written by men, testifying 
to the great benefit which they have 
secured from these few minutes of 
simple but vigorous work. 

"* * * The correspondence 
schools of physical training have 
come into great activity. Their 
general aim is to build up big mus- 
cles. A somewhat careful investi- 
gation of them satisfies me that they 
are inferior to the exercises in this 
drill for purposes of building up 
vig(jr and manliness. 

" One of the most vigorous claims 
of some of these schools, namely, 
that the heart particularly is bene- 
fited by their work, is false, for I 
have had case after case of men 
whose hearts have been injured by 
taking the correspondence schools' 
work when they were not in condi- 
tion for it. 

"The exercises in « Ten Minutes' 
Exercise for Busy Men ' are recom- 
mended with the confidence of long, 
successful use. The results secured 
are better than those possible from 
the correspondence school work in 
the specific directions mentioned." 




HOW TO BECOME A BOXER 

For many years publications have | 
been issued on the art of boxing that I 
to a certain extent did not enable the | 
novice nor the youth to become pro- 
ficient in the manly art. There is 
probably no man in America better 
qualified to teach boxing than Prof. 
William Elmer, and in his book on 
the subject he goes into it very ex- 
haustively. The book contains about 
seventy full page illustrations, show- 
ing how each blow is to be made, 
how to attack and how to defend 
yourself. It shows how the hands 
must be held and the positions to 
take, with descriptions that are so 
accurate that any boy can take them, 
open them up and with a young friend 
become proficient. Besides being a 
fully illustrated book on the art of 
self-defence, it contains nearly all 
the photographs of the leading Amer- 
ican boxers and the positions they 
take, which in itself is instructive ; 
the different rules under which all 
contests are held, and articles which 
will interest anyone on the question 
of physical education. In order to 
make this publication the most ac- 
curate one issued. Prof. Elmer had 
his sparring partner posed personally 
for all the illustrations. 

PRICE BY MAIL lo CENTS. 

American Sports Publishing; Co. 

16-18 Park Place. New York. 




'Physical Training Simplified" 



\ ^^J 



By PROF. EDWARD B. WARMAN 

Autlior of "Practical Orthcepy and Critique;" 
"Gestures and Attitudes;" " Delsarte Philoso- 
jihy;" "The Voice — How to Train It, IIow to 
Care for It;" "How to Read, Recite and Im- 
personate." 

A Complete Course of Physical Training 
for Home Use— In Four Series. 



No. 149 — Spalding's Athletic Library. The 
Care ok 'IHE Body. Price 10 cents. 

No. 142 — Spalding's Athletic Library. 
Physical Training; complete, thorough, 
]>ractical; no apparatus. Fully adapted for 
l)oth sexes. Price lo cents. 

No. 166 — Spalding's Athletic Library, In- 
dian Cluu Exercises. Price 10 cents. 

No. 185 — Spalding's Athletic Library. 
Health Influenced by Underwear; 
Health Influenced by Insulation; Health 
Influenced by Color; Exercise — Who 
Needs It? Price 10 cents. 

These books form a complete course 
in physical development for any man or 
woman, and should be read by all who 
desire a perfect body. 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 



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I'hiladelplii 

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Spalding ''Highest Quality" Sweaters 

MADE of the very — 

finest Australian 
Iambs* wool, and ex- 
ceedingly soft and 
pleasant to wear. They 
are full fashioned to 
body and arms and 
without seams of any 
kind. The various 
grades in our "Highest 
Quality" Sweaters are 
identical in quality and 
finish, the difference in 
price being due entirely 
to variations in weight. 
We call special at- 
tention to the "Inter- 
collegiate" grade which 
is exclusively used by 
all Intercollegiate play- 
ers. They are consid- 
ably heavier than the heaviest sweater ever knitted and cannot be 
furnished by any other maker, as we have exclusive control of this 
special weight. 

No. A. "Intercollegiate," special weight. 

No. B. Heavy Weight 

No. C. Standard Weight. 

Colors: White, Navy Blue, Black, Gray, Maroon and Cardinal. Other colors to 

order at an advanced price. Prices on application. All made with 10-inch 

collars. Sizes, 2S to 44. 




$6.00 

5.00 
4.00 



Striped Sweaters 



Same quality as our No. B. Sizes 32 to 42 inches. Colors: Red 

and Black, Navy and Red, Orange and Black, Navy and White. 

Stripes 2 inches wide. 

No. BS. Striped Sweaters. Each, $5.50 

Any other combination of colors to order only at an advanced price. 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York Chicago Philadelphia San Francisco 

St. Louis Boston Buffalo Baltimore 

Denver Minneapolis Kansas City Montreal, Can. 

London, England 



A, G, SPALDING & BROS. 



ARE THE LARGEST MANUFACTURERS IN 
THE WORLD OF GYMNASTIC APPARATUS 



tJ 



u 



They have equipped nearly all 
the large college gymnasiums as 
well as schools, athletic clubs and 
public playgrounds. Spalding's 
apparatus is standard in every 
way. The greatest care is taken 
in its construction. Only the 
finest material is used. The 
construction is intelligently and 
correctly supervised by mechanical 
experts of high standing. It is 
immaterial how large or small 
the gymnasium is, Spalding's 
should be consulted. Blue prints 
and estimates furnished free on 
application. 



rr 



V 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 



Gymnasium Factory 

CHICOPEE FALLS . 



MASS. 



Spald 




as 



h Tennis Rackets 



i'^ranics made of finest selected 

white ash, finished with rounded 
edges and high pohsh. 

Xn. i6. Bound at shoulders, strung 
with white oriental gut, combed 
cedar handle. . Each, $2.50 

X< ). 18. Bound at shoulders, strung 
with white oriental gut, horse- 
hide wound handle. Each, $3.00 

Xo. 19, Bound at shoulders, strung 
with black lambs' gut, combed 
cedar handle, head slightly 
smaller than the above. $3.50 

No. 20. Bound at shoulders, strung 
with black lambs' gut, horsehide 
wound handle, head same as in 
No. 19. . . Each, 4.00 




No. 9. Squash Tennis Balls, Cham- 
pionship quality; special stitch- 
ing. White, Black or Red. 
Felt covered. Per dozen. $4.00 



A. C. SPALDING Sl BROS. 



New York Chicago 

Boston Baltimore 

St. Louis Minneapolis 

Montreal, Can. 



Philadelphia San Francisco 

Buffalo Kansas City 

Denver Washington 

London, England 




No. 17 



SPALDING'S 

SQUASH 
RACQUETS 



P.ats made of finest selected asli; 

stninj;- witli best (iiiality gut; gi'ip 

WDiind with white kid; best grade 

throughout. 

No. 17. Each, $5.00 



Imported best qiiahty i 11-16 inch 
rubber balls; black or red enameled. 

No. S. Per dozen, $2.50 



Spaldinpr's handsomely illustrated catalogue of athletic g-oo<]s 
mailed free to any address. 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 



New York Chicago 

Boston Baltimore 

St. Louis Minneapoli.^ 

Montreal, Can, 



Philadelphia San FranciscM 

Buffalo Kansas City 

Denver Washington 

London, England 



THE SPALDING 

"GOLD MEDAL" RACKET 



ABSOLUTELY PERFECTION 




Enclosed in mackintosh cover. Tag attached to each racket gives 

particulars of special inspection. 

The Spalding Gold Medal Racket, $8.00 

With cane handle, 50 cents extra 



THE SPALDING 

"GOLD MEDAL" 

RACKET 




OR some time past we have 
been w o r k i n g on the 
Spalding Gold AT e d a 1 
Racket. Taking one of 
the Spalding Expert 
shape frames as a basis, 
various methods of string- 
ing have been tried with 
the object of getting just the happy medium of 
firmness and resiliency demanded in the string- 
ing of a tennis racket by the expert player, and 
in presenting the No. A and No. B styles, as 
illustrated on opposite page, it is our firm be- 
lief that every virtue demanded in the stringing 
of a tennis racket is contained in one or the 
other, and they are bound to meet with the 

favor of even the most critical. 
Frames of absolutely best quality white ash, 
finished with a high polish and bound at should- 
ers. Throat-piece of polished mahogany and 
handle of best grade mahogany, either 5, 5 1-4 
or 5 1-2 inches circumference, combed. String- 
ing of clearest and absolutely best quality 
lambs' gut. 



Send for 
Spalding's 
handsomely 
illustrated 
catalogue of 
tennis and 
all athletic 
sports. 
Sent free to 
any address 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 



New York 
Boston 
St. Louis 



Montreal, Can. 



Chicago 
Baltimore 
[inneapolis 



Philadelphia 

Buffalo 

Denver 



London, England 



San Francisco 

Kansas City 

Washington 




The 
Spalding 

Model 
Rachels 



Each model is 
distinctive, but 
quality the 
same through- 
o u t . Perfect 
balance as- 
sured. Quality 
of material 
and workman- 
ship the best 
ever put in an 
article of this 
kind. Frame 
of specially se- 
lected highly 
polished white 
ash, beveled; 
polished ma- 
hogany throat- 
piece. Hand 
made through- 
out and strung 
with finest 
quality lambs' 
gut; leather 
capped handle. 




Model A Model C 

No. 14. ^lODEL A. i\Iahogany handle. . . Each, $6.00 

No. 15. ^lODEL D. Mahogany handle. . . " 6.00 

No. 13. ]\IODEL C. Cane spHced handle. . " 7.00 



SPALDING & BROS. 



New York Chicago 

Boston Baltimore 

St. Louis Minneapolis 

Montreal, Can. 



Philadelphia San Francisco 

Buffalo Kansas City 

Denver Washington 

London, England 




The 

Spalding 

Tennis 

eaehers 



No. 6. THE 
No. 5. THE 
No. 4. THE 



AM modeled on 
tlie expert 
Spalding shape. 
Frames of the 
finest selected 
white ash, high- 
ly polished, 
with mahogany 
throat- piece 
and combed 
mahogany 
handle; leather 
capped; string- 
ing of good 
qualityOriental 
gut. 



VANTAGE 

LAKESIDE. Extra large handle 
GREENWOOD. 




Each, $3.50 
2.50 
2.00 



SPALDING Sl BROS. 



New York 
Boston 
St. Louis 



Chicago 
Baltimore 
Minneapolis 
Montreal, Can. 



Philadelphia, 
Buffalo 
Denver 
London, England 



San Francisco 
Kansas City 
Washington 



The Travis Patent 
Drivers and Brassies 



Mr. W. J. Travis, Amateur Champion of 
the United States and the United King- 
dom, has granted us the sole right 
to manufacture The Travis Patent 
Driver and Brassie. Mr. Travis, who has 
probably studied the art of playing golf, 
based upon "cause and effect," more thor- 
oughly and with better results than any 
other man since golf was first played, has 
found by constant practice that the art of 
straight driving can be acquired by 
weighting the head in such a way that the 
clubs slice or pull. He has patented this 
mechanical idea, and we are now selling 
clubs which are stamped "P," "S" and 
"R"— Pull, Slice, Regular. If you are in 
the habit of pulling your ball, buy a club 
stamped "S," and the mechanical con- 
struction of the club, by causing the ball 
to slice, will neutralize your pull; vice 
versa, if you slice, buy a Pulling club; if 
you naturally drive fairly straight, buy a 
Regular. The balance of all the clubs is 
perfect; the shafts are selected to suit the 
heads, of which there are numerous mod- 
els, and that Mr, Travis uses these clubs 
himself is the best proof that the clubs are 
O. K. in every respect. 

Travis Patent Drivers and Brassies 
Each, $3.00 




r 



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/" 




A. C. SPALDING <&, BROS. 



New York 

Boston 

Buffalo 



Chicago 

Minneapolis 

Philadelphia 



St. Louis 
Baltimore 
Denver 



Washington 
Kansas City 
Pittsburg 



San Francisco 
Montreal, Can. 
London, England 



Spalding's 
Model T Pullers 




styles 
AandD 





Model A, Narrow Head 



Model B, Broad Head 



These are putters manufactured from models made expressly 
for Mr. Travis. They are made of wood heavily weighted with 
lead. Attached to face of head, and covering face entirely, is a 
scored brass plate. The shaft is placed directly behind point 
of impact. The balance is perfect and the club's certainly feel 
"just riiiht." Made in two models. 

Spoidln<i*s Model T Pullers. Eaeh35.oo 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 



New York 

Boston 

Buffalo 



Chicag-o 

Minneapolis 

Philadelphia 



St. Louis 
Baltimore 
Denver 



Washington 
Kansas City 
Pittsburg 



San Francisco 
Montreal, Can. 
London, England 




From 

Champion 

Jeffries 



A. G. Spalding & Bros. 

Gentlemen-I wish to thank 
you for the perfect shoes and 
boxing- gloves that you fur- 
nished me for my fight with 
Mr. Fitzsimmons, and also to 
give you my indorsement for 
the superb quality of these 
goods. I shall expect to use 
them in all my future contests. 
Yours very truly. 



Send for Spalding's handsomely illustrated catalogue 
of athletic sports. Mailed free to any address. 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York Chicago Philadelphia San Francisco 

Boston Baltimore Buffalo Kansas City 

St. Louis Minneapolis Denver Montreal, Can. 

London, England 



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iio.sK Villa, Bensonhmst. N. Y.. Feb. 15. 1902. 
A. G. Spalding & Bros. 

Gkntlemen— You no doubt bave seen by tbe Associated Press dis- 
patcbes that I am matclied with James J. Jeffries to contest for the 
championship of the world durinpr the month of May, next. I am go- 
ing to make an earnest effort to win back the championship, and 
want to be in fine fettle when I enter the rinR-. I have always used 
your gloves in every important battle, and as I can find nothing to 
compare with the Spalding gloves and striking bags you make, I want 
you to forward at once a set of 5-ounce "Specials," and a set of the 
10-ounce training gloves. 

I am going to have Gus Ruhlin assist me in training, and when I get 
well under way, will forward an additional order, so that I may not be 
handicapped for want of apparatus. 

Kindly forward bill, and I will send a New York draft to balance 
account. With regards. 

Yours very truly. 



^^£^^/ ^^^^^m^^ 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 



New York 
Boston 
St. Louis 



Chicago 

Baltimore 

Minneapolis 

Ijondon, 



Philadelphia 
Buffalo 
Denver 
England 



San Francisco 
Kansas City 
Montreal, Can. 




From Young corDert 

A. G. Spalding & Bros. 

Gentlemen— I have carefully- 
inspected the glove you are manu- 
facturing, called the "Spalding 
Special" Contest Glove, and after 
a thorough examination must con- 
fess it is by far the most comfort- 
able glove I have ever had on my 
hand. It possesses all the require- 
ments, and I am fully satisfied it 
will gain universal recognition and 
will be adopted by all the promot- 
ci-s throughout the country. The 
idea of being made of special kid 
Lnilher, and also being lined with a 
special tanned perspiration proof 
leather, makes it doubly strong, for 
it can stand any amount of rough 
usage without becoming unfit for 
use, as in most instances, after a 
glove becomes wet with perspira- 
tion it stretches, gets out of shape 
and is utterly worthless. I gave the 
glove a thorough trial and am con- 
fident you have hit the nail on the 
liead, and have no hesitancy in 
recommending the article in ques- 
tion to those who are interested. 
Yours very truly. 



Copyright, 1901, by J. HalU 
1456 Broadway, 
New York 



&^n^^^ 



l^ eat her weight Chaffi- 
pion of the World. 



Send for Spalding's handsomely illustrated catalogue. 
Mailed free to any address. 




New York 
Boston 
St. Louis 



C. SPALDING & BROS. 

Chicago Philadelphia San Francisco 

Baltimore Buffalo Kansas City 

Minneapolis Denver Montreal, Can. 

London, England 



=THE= 



SPALDING CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING GLOVES 




Tlie Spalding ♦'Championship Gloves" are endorsed by all 
champions and have been exclusively used for years in cham- 
pionship contests and in training. The material and workman- 
ship are of highest quality, the fit is perfect, and by their 
peculiar construction, absolutely prevent any chance of injury 
to the hands or wrists. Each set is carefully inspected before 
packing, and guaranteed in every particular. Made in three 
sizes, in sets of four gloves. 

No. lis. The Spalding "Championship" Glove, 5 oz. 
No 116. The Spalding "Championship" Glove, 6 oz. 
No. 118. The Spalding "Championship" Glove, 8 oz. 



Per set, $6.00 
6.00 
6.00 



THE SPALDING •* SPECIAL" No. 218 

Same style as our Championship Gloves, but not quite so high a 
quality in material or workmanship. 

No. 218. The Spalding " Special " Glove. . . Per set, $4 00 

Handsomely illustrated catalogue mailed free to any address. 



New York 
lioston 

St. Louis 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 



Chicago Philadelphia 
Baltimore Buffalo 
Minneapolis Denver 


San Francisco 
Kansas City 
Montreal, Can 


London, England 





BOXING GLOVES 




■\^ frv 



I / 



Cut illustrates the patent palm lacing and patent palm grip referred 
to in descriptions of following boxing gloves. With these improve- 
ments we believe our line is absolutely the finest on the market. 
The patent palm lacing insuring a snug fit at all times is a very valu- 
able feature, and the patent palm grip we know will be appreciated 
by those who want gloves that are up-to-date in every particular. 
No. 11. Corbett pattern, large 7 oz. glove, gambia tan leather, 
padded with best curled hair, patent palm lacing, padded 
wristband, patent palm grip. Substantially made throughout 

for hard usage Per set. $4.50 

No. 9. Regulation 5 oz. glove, otherwise same as No. ii„ 4.50 
No. 13. Corbett pattern, olive tanned leather, well padded with 
hair, patent palm lacing and patent palm grip. Per set, $4.00 
No. 14. Regulation 5 oz. glove, dark wine color, padded wrist- 
band, patent palm lacing and palm grip. . Per set, $3.25 

Handsomely illustrated catalogue mailed free to any address. 



A. G. SPALDING 6c BROS. 



New York 


Chicago 


Philadelphia 


Boston 


])altimore 


Buffalo 


St. Louis 


Minneapolis 


Denver 




London 


England 



San Francisco 
Kansas City 
Montreal, Can. 



BOXING GLOVES 




Cut illustrates the patent palm lacing and patent palm grip referred 
to in descriptions of following boxing gloves. With these improve- 
ments we believe our line is absolutely the finest on the market. 
The patent palm lacing insuring a snug fit at all times is a very valu- 
able feature, and tlie patent palm grip we know will be appreciated 
by those who want gloves that are up-to-date in every particular. 



No. 
h 



15. Corbett pattern, soft tanned leather, well padded with 

ir, padded wristband, patent palm lacing and patent palm 

grip Per set, $3.00 

No, 17, Corbett pattern, craven tan leather, well padded with 
hair, patent palm lacing, patent palm grip and padded wrist- 
band, Per set, $3.00 

No. 19. Corbett pattern, craven tan leather, well padded with 
hair, patent palm grip and patent palm lacing. Per set, $2.50 

No, 21. Corbett pattern, grip and cuffs of olive tanned leather, 
balance of glove finished in dark wine color tanned leather. 
Well padded with hair and patent palm lacing. Per set, $2.00 

Handsomely illustrated catalogue mailed free to any address. 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York Chicago Philadelphia San Francisco 

Boston _ Haltimore IJuffalo Kansas City 

St. Louis Minneapolis Denver Montreal, Can. 

London, England 



YOUTHS' GLOVES 





L 




Efe^P\\ 




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ft /~^^^^ \ 


if 


No. 85. C 


oibett Pattern. 



ALL 

STYLES, 

PADDED 

WITH 

HAIR 




No. 45. Youths' Championship Glove, Corbett pattern, fine quality 

olive tanned leather, extra well finished and double stitched. 

Patent palm lacing and patent palm grip. . Per set, $2.50 
No. 35. Youths' size, Corbett pattern, soft craven tan leather, well 

padded, patent palm lacing and patent palm grip. Per set, $2.00 
No. 30. Youths' size, Corbett pattern, soft tanned leather, patent 

palm lacing. ...... Per set, $1.75 

No. 25. Youths' size, regular pattern, soft tanned leather, patent 

palm lacing. Per set, $1.25 

No. 26. Youths' size, regular pattern, dark tanned leather, elastic 

wristband Per set, $1.00 

Handsomely illustrated catalogue mailed free to any address. 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 



New York 
Boston 
St. Louis 



Chicago 

Baltimore 

Minneapolis 



Philadelphia 

Buffalo 

Denver 



San Francisco 
Kansas City 
Montreal, Can. 



London, England 



BOXING GLOVES 



REGULAR PATTERN 

No. 23. Regular pattern, outer 
handpiece of olive tanned 
leather, grip and cuffs of 
darker shade, hair padded and 
patent palm lacing. Set, $1 50 

No. 24. Regular pattern, outer 
handpiece of dark wine color 
tanned leather, grip and cuffs 
of darker shade; hair padded, 
elastic wristband. Set, $I.CO 




MINIATURE BOXING GLOVES 

Well made and leather of good 
quality. The B and C styles will 
fit the hand of a small child. 
They are copies of our regular 
Corbett style men's gloves, are 
nicely padded and have laced 
wristband. 

No. C. Large size, laced. 
No. B. Medium size, laced. 
No. A. Small size, plain. 

Plandsomely illustrated catalogue mailed free to any address. 




A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 



New York 
Boston 
St. Louis 



Chicago 

Baltimore 

Minneapolis 



Phihulclph 

lUiffalo 

Denver 



San Francisco 
Kansas City 
Montreal, Can. 



London, England 



HOW TO PUNCH 
THE BAG 




BY 



r»^B YOUNG CORBETT 



(W. H. ROTHWELL) 

The most complete book on 
bag punching ever written. 
All the various movements 
clearly explained and illus- 
trated. T h e photographs 
were taken especially for 
this book at Young Corbett's 
training quarters in New 
York, and cannot be seen 

elsewhere. 

Fancy bag punching described 

by W. F. Keller, champion 

fancy bag puncher. 

PRICE TEN CENTS 



W. H. ROTHWELL 

(" Young Corbett ") 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 



New York 
Boston 
St. Louis 



Chicago Philadelphia 

Baltimore Buffalo 

Minneapolis Denver 

London, England 



San Francisco 
Kansas City 
Montreal, Can. 



The Spalding Patent 
Inflated Striking Bag Disks 



Patent Pending 




DOORWAY STYLE 

Is bracketed out from a doorway bar, having a single overhead brace, which is 
screwed to the wall above the door. The doorway bar is made of iron pipe 
having rubber cushions on ends. Turning the pipe causes the end sockets to 
spread, jamming the cushions against the sides of door and making the bar 
firni and rigid. The bar may also be used as a "chinning" horizontal bar. In 
ordering, state width of doorway. 



No. BR. Complete, without bag. 



. Each, $10.00 



Handsomely illustrated catalogue mailed free to any address. 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York Chicago Philadelphia San Francisco 

Boston _ P.altimore Buffalo Kansas City 

St, Louis Minneapolis Denver Montreal, Can. 

London, England 



The 5palding Patent 
Inflated Striking Bag Disks 



Patent Pending 




■VA/E need not dilate 
^^ on the healthful 
attributes so generally 
recognized, but if any- 
thing can make bag- 
punching more popular 
we think the style disks 
we introduce this season 
will go far in that direc- 
tion. No complaint is 
more common, in refer- 
ence to the ord nary 
platform, than the an- 
noyance caused by its 
vibration and noise. So 
far as it is physically 
possible we have elimi- 
nated both of these dis- 
agreeable features. The 
bag does not hit against a 
solid frame, but Instead 
we have a pneumatic 
cushion, and conse- 
quently there is no 
more noise than that 
occasioned by the fist 
tapping the bag, while 
on the same account the 
vibration is reduced to a 
minimum. 



ADJUSTABLE STYLE 

Can be raised or lowered simply by loosening the jamb thumb-nuts. 

Is perfectly firm and solid when thumb-nuts are tightened and has 

a long space for adjustment. 

No. AR. Complete, without bag. Each, $10.00 

Handsomel}' illustrated catalogue mailed free to any address. 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York Chicago Philadelphia 

St. Louis Boston Buffalo 

Denver Minneapolis Kansas City 

London, England. 



San Francisco 
Baltimore 
Montreal, Can. 



The Spalding Patent 
Inflated Striking Bag Disks 



Patent Pending 




WALL BRACED 
STYLE 

Equipped with substantial 
wall braces and a very satis- 
factory style. 
Complete, without bag. 
No. ER. . Each, $7.50 

Handsomely illustrated catalogue mailed free to any address. 



New York 
Boston 
St. Louis 



A. G. SPALDING <& BROS. 

Chicago Philadelphia 

Baltimore Buffalo 

Minneapolis Denver 

London, England 



San Francisco 
Kansas City 
Montreal, Can. 



The Spalding Patent 
Solid Striking Bag Disks 



Patent Pending 




DOORWAY STYLE- 



Siniilfii- to No. 1)R, except tlie inflated feature. 
No. DR. Complete, without bag. . . Each, $7.50 

Handsomely illustrated catalogue mailed free to any address. 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 



New York 
St. Louis 
Denver 



Chicago Philadelphia 

I'oston Buffalo 

Minneapolis Kansas Cit)' 

London, Elngland 



San Francisco 
Jjaltimore 
Montreal, Can. 



The Spalding Patent 
Solid Striking Bag Disks 



Patent Pending 




THE^ solid disk for 
striking bags will 
always hold a high place 
in the estimation of 
many on account of the 
variety of work it per- 
mits. The style which 
we originally introduced 
some years ago is the 
one which has been imi- 
tated most generally, 
but in all these substi- 
tutes the makers, while 
making them lighter, 
have uniformly ne- 
glected the most essen- 
ti d point and have 
produced a n article 
flimsy and unsatisfac- 
tory to a degree. 

A striking bag disk 
must be substantial if it 
is to be of use, and in 
the various styles, both 
adjustable and braced, 
this feature has not been 
neglected, while we have 
striven to put out a disk 
which is suitable for 
home use and moderate 
in price. 



ADJUSTABLE STYLE 

Similar to No. AR, except the inflated feature. 
No. CR. Complete, without bag. . . Each, $7.50 

Handsomely illustrated catalogue mailed free to any address. 



A. G. SPALDING Sl BROS. 

New York Chicago Philadelphia San Francisco 

Boston Baltimore J'.uffalo Kansas City 

St. Louis Minneapolis Denver Montreal, Can. 

London, England 



The Spalding Patent 
Solid Striking: Bag Disks 



Patent Pending 




WALL BRACED STYLE 



Similar to No. ER, except the inflated feature 



No. FR. Complete, without bag. 



Each, $5.00 



New York 
Boston 
St. Louis 



A. C. SPALDING &> BROS. 

Chicago Philadelphia San Francisco 



Baltimore Buffalo 

Minneapolis Denver 

London, England 



Kansas City 
Montreal, Can. 





The Spalding 

— ^-^ PATENTED ■^^— 

Double End Bag 

Made of finest selected Napa tan leather, and 
workmanship of same quality as in our "Fitz- 
simmons Special" Bag. Double stitched, welted 
seams, best quality Para rubber bladder. An ex- 
tremely durable and lively bag. Complete in 

box and carefully inspected before packing. 

No. 7. Complete in box. . . Each, $5.00 

No. 6. Extra fine olive tanned leather cover, 

double stitched, welted seams. Extra well 

made throughout. . • Complete, $4 00 

No. 5. Regulation size, specially tanned glove 

leather cover, welted seams, double stitched 

and substantially made. . Complete, $3.50 

No. 414. Regulation size, fine maroon tanned 

leather and welted seams. Well finished 

throughout. . . . Complete, $3.00 

No. 4. Regulation size, fine grain leather 

cover and well made throughout, double 

stitched. .... Complete, $2.50 

No. 3. Regulation size, substantial red leather 

cover, reinforced and welted seams. $2.00 

No. 2}4- Medium size, good quality, dark olive 

tanned leather, well put together, and welted 

seams. .... Complete, $1.50 

No. 2. Medium size, good light russet tanned 

leather, substantially made, double 

stitched Complete, $1.00 

Each bag complete in box, with bladder, rubber 
cord for floor, wooden ball and rope for ceiling 
attachnent. 
EXTRA BLADDERS 
No. B. Bladder for Nos. 2, 2^^ and 3. 50c. 

No. 25. Bladder for Nos. 4, 4}^,. 5 and 6. 50c. 
Above bladders are carefully inspected and 
tested before packing, but otherwise not guaran- 
teed in any way. 
No. OS. Bladder for No. 7, pure gum and fully 
guaranteed. . . . Each, $1.00 

No. D. Elastic floor at iachment for all styles 
double end bags, best quality cord. Each, 50c. 



A. G. SPALDING Sc BROS, 



New Yor 
Boston 
St. Louis 



Chicago 

I'altimore 

Minneapolis 



Philadelphia 

Buffalo 

Denver 



San Francisco 
Kansas City 
Montreal, Can. 



London, England 



THE SPALDING PATENT STRIKING BAG 

This bag will swing true because it 
is built that way. It cannot make a 
false move, no matter how hard it is 
hit. No loop to interfere with rope, 
and the most certain in its action of 
any on the market. It is made with 
a lace running around the neck, like 
a draw-string. Inflate the bladder, 
drop the wooden ball into the open- 
ing at the top and pull the lace tight; 
then regulate the length of the rope 
and fit bag to your platform. The 
idea has met with such general 
approval that we are now making 
our entire line on the same principle. 

No. 19. Made of highest quality 
Patna kid, the lightest and strong- 
est of leather. Sewed with silk, 
double stitched and reinforced 
throughout. Especially suitable 
for exhibition work, and the 
fastest bag made. . Each, $7.00 
No. 18. Made of finest selected Napa tanned leather, extra well 
made; double stitched, welted seams and reinforced throughout. 
For training purposes particularly this bag will be found ex- 
tremely satisfactory in every respect. The " Fitzsimmons 
Special." ..... Each, $5.00 

No. 18S. Same as No. i8, but smaller in size and lighter. In- 
tended for very speedy work. . . Each, $5.00 
Each bag is most carefully inspected and then packed complete in box with 
bladder, lace, wooden ball and rope. 

EXTRA BLADDERS— Guaranteed 

No. OS. Pure gum bladder for Nos. i8 and 19 bags. Each, $1.00 
No. OSX. Pure gum bladder for No. 18S bag. . " 1.00 



I 


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Illustrating Ball-an 
Fastening 


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New York 
St. Louis 
Denver 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

Chicago Philadelphia San Francisco 

Boston Buffalo Baltimore 

Minneapolis Kansas City Montreal, Can. 

London, England 



THE SPALDING PATENT STRIKING BAG 



No. 20. Made of finest selected 
calfskin, double irtilched, welted 
seams and reinforced throughout. 
Very fast and will give excellent 
satisfaction. An ideal hag for 
gymnasium use. . Eacli, $5.50 

No. 12. Made of olive tanned 
leather, specially selected; double 
stitched, welted seams and rein- 
forced throughout. Excellent for 
quick work . . . Each, $4.00 

No. 10. Made of specially tanned 
glove leather; double stitched, 
welted seams and reinforced 
throughout. A substantial hag, 
well made in every particular. 
Each $3.00 

No. 17. Made of fine maroon tan- 
ned leather, well finished ; double 
stitched, welted seams and re- 
inforced throughout. A good all- 
around bag.. . Each, $2 50 

No. 16. Made of extra fine grain 
leather ; lined throughout and 
very well made . Each, $2.00 

No. 15. Made of olive tanned leather; welted seams and lined 
throughout Each, $1.50 

No. 14. Made of light russet tanned leather; lined throughout 
and well put together Each, $1.00 




lustraiin.; J lall-and-Lace 
Fastening 



EXTRA BLADDERS 

No. OS. Pure gum bladder for No. 20 bag — guaranteed, $1.00 

No B, Bladders for Nos. 14 and 15 bags. . Each, .50 

No. 25, For Nos. 16, 17, 10 and 12 bags. . " .50 

The Nos. B and 25 bladders are carefully tested before packing, but not otherwise 
guaranteed in any way. 



A. C. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York Chicago Pliiladelphia San Francisco 

St. Louis Boston Buffalo Baltimore 

Denver Minneapolis Kansas City Montreal, Can 
London, England 








The Spalding Official League Ball. 

Used exclusively by the National League, Minor 
Leagues, and by all Intercollegiate and other Associ- 
ations for over a quarter of a century. Each ball 
wrapped in tinfoil and put in a separate box, and 
sealed in accordance with the regulations of the 
National League and American Association. War- 
ranted to last a full game when used under ordinary 
conditions. .No. 1. "Official" League Ball. Each, $1.25 



A. C. SPALDING Sl BROS. 



New York 
Boston 
St. Louis 



Chicago Philadelphia 

Baltimore Buffalo 

Minneapolis Denver 

London, England 



San Francisco 
Kansas City 
Montreal, Can, 



Spalding's 
Athletic Library 



gPALDING'S Athletic Library is devoted to 
all athletic sports and pastimes, indoor 
and outdoor, and is the recognized American 
cyclopedia of sport. Each book is complete in 
itself ; and those sports which are governed 
by National Associations always designate 
Spalding's Athletic Library as the official pub- 
lication. This gives to each book the official 
authority to contain the rules. Each year 
the books are brought up-to-date, with the 
latest rules, new ideas, new pictures, and valu- 
able information, thus making the series the 
most valuable of its kind in the world. The 
price, 10 cents per copy, places them in the 
reach of all, and no one's library can be com- 
plete unless all the numbers are found therein. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 



No. 12-Association Foot Ball 

Contains valuable information, diagram of play, and rules. 



Price 10 



No. 13-How to Play Hand Ball 

By the world's champion, Michael Egan, of Jersey 
City. This book has been rewritten and brought up to 
date in every particular. Every move is thoroughly 
explained. The numerous illustrations consist of full 
pages made from photographs of Champion Egan, 
showing him in all his characteristic attitudes when 
playing. These pictures were made exclusively for 
this book and cannot be found in any other publica- 
tion. This is undoubtedly the best work on hand ball ever published. 
Price 10 cents. 




No. 14-Curling 

Rules, regulations and diagrams of play. 



Price 10 cents. 




No. 16-How to Become a Skater 

By Goo. I). Phillips, for years the American cham- 
pion. Contains chapter for boys and advice for be- 
ginners; how to become a figure skater thoroughly 
explained, with many diagrams showing how to do 
all the different tricks of the best figure skaters, in- 
cluding the Mohawk, with all its variations; Q's, for- 
ward and backward, inside and outside; the crosscuts, 
including the difficult Swedish style; inside and outside spins; the 
en^-apevine, with its numerous branches, and many other styles, which 
will be comparatively simple to any one who follows the directions given. 
Price 10 cents. 

No. 23-Canoeing 

By C. Bowyer Vaux. Paddling, sailing, cruising and racing canoes 
and their uses. Price 10 cents. 



No. 27-College Athletics 

M. C. Murphy, the well-known athletic trainer, 
now with Yale University, the author of this book, 
has written it especially for the schoolboy and 
college man, but it is invaluable for the athlete 
who wishes to excel in any branch of athletic 
sport. Price 10 cents. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 



No. 29-Exercising With Pulley 
Weights 

By Dr. Henry S. Anderson. In conjunction with a 
chest machine anyone with this book can become per- 
fectly developed. Contains all the various movements 
necessary to become proficient and of well-developed 
physique. Thoroughly explained and illustrated with 
numerous drawings. Price 10 cents. 





No. 39-Lawn Bowls 

This famous Scottish game, which 
has achieved considerable popularity in 
America, is fully described by Henry 
Chadwick. Contains an account of the 
introduction of the game in America and 
the official rules as promulgated by the 
Scottish Bowling Association. Price 10 
cents. 

No. 40-Archery 

By J. S. Mitchel. An introductory chapter on 
the use of the bow and arrow; archery of the 
present day; the bow and how to use it, with prac- 
tical illustrations on the right and wrong method 
of aiming. Price 10 cents. 



No. 55-Ofricial Sporting Rules 

Contains rules for the government of many sports not found in other 
publications; wrestling, cross-country running, shuffleboard, skating, 
snowshoeing, quoits, potato racing, professional racing, racquets, pigeon 
flyiriE. dog racing, pistol and revolver shooting. Price 10 cents. 




No. 87-Athletic Primer 

Edited by J. E. Sullivan, Secretary-Treasurer of 
the Amateur Athletic Union ; tells how to organ- 
ize an athletic club, how to conduct an athletic 
meeting, and gives rules for the government of 
athletic meetings ; contents also include a very in- 
structive article on training; fully illustrated. 
Price 10 cents. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 



No. I02-Cround Tumbling 

By Prof. Henry Walter Worth, who was for years physical director of 
the Armour Institute of Technology. Any boy. by reading this book and 
following the instructions, which are drawn from life, can become a pro- 
ficient tumbler. Price 10 cents. 



No. 104 The Grading of Gymnastic Exercises 

By G. M. Martin. Physical Director of the Y. M. C. A. of Youngstown. 
Ohio It is a book that should be in the hands of every physical director 
of the Y. M. C. A., school, club, college, etc. It is the official standard 
publication and should be used by them. Price 10 cents. 




No. 124-How to Become a 
Gymnast 

By Robert StoU, of the New York A. C, the 
American champion on the flying rings from 1885 
to 1892. Any boy who frequents a gymnasium or 
who has a horizontal bar or parallel bar at his com- 
mand, can easily follow the illustrations and in- 
structions in this book and with a little practice 
become proficient. Price 10 cents. 



No. 128-How to Row 

By E. J. Giannini. of the New York A. C, and one of 
America's most famous amateur oarsman and champions. 
This book will instruct any one who Is a lover of rowing 
how to become an expert. It is fully illustrated showing 
liow to hold the oars, the finish of the stroke and other 
information that will prove valuable to the beginner. 
Price 10 cents. 





No. r29-Water Polo 

|. t> By Gus Sundstrom, instructor at the New York A. C. 

■ r^ It treats of every detail, the individual work of the 

players, the practice of the team, how to throw the 
ball, with many illustrations and valuable hints. 
Price 10 cents. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 



No. 135-Ofricial Handbook of the A. A. U. of the 
United States. 

The A. A. U. is the governing body of ath- 
letes in the United States of America, and all 
games must be held under its rules, which are 
exclusively published in this handbook, and a 
copy should be in the hands of every athlete 
and every club officer in America. This book 
contains the official rules for running, jump- 
ing, vvreight throwing, hurdling, pole vaulting, 

swimming, boxing, wrestling, etc., and is an encyclopedia in itself. 

Price 10 cents. 



No. 136-Oflncial Y. M. C. A. Handbook 

Edited by G. T. Hepbron, the well-known athletic 
authority. It contains the official rules governing all 
sports under the jurisdiction of the Y. M. C. A., a com- 
plete report of the physical directors' conference, offi- 
cial Y. M. C. A. scoring tables, pentathlon rules, many 
pictures of the leading Y. M. C. A. athletes of the 
country, and official Y. M. C. A. athletic rule?. Price 
10 cents. 

No. 138-OfTlcial Croquet Guide 

Contains the official rules of the game, directions for playing and dia- 
grams of important strokes. Price 10 cents. 



No. I40-Wrestling 

Catch as catch can style. By E. H. Hitchcock, M. D., and R, F. Nelli- 
gan, of Amherst College. The book contains illustrations of the different 
holds, photographed especially so that anybody who desires to become ex- 
pert in wrestling can with little effort learn every one. Price 10 cents. 

No. 142-Physical Training Simplified 

By Prof. E. B. Warman, the well-known physical culture expert. Is a 
complete, thorough and practical book where the whole man is consid- 
ered—brain and body. By following the instructions no apparatus is 
required. The book is adapted for both sexes. Fully illustrated. Price 
10 cents. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COP^' 




No. 143-lndian Clubs and Dumb- 
Bells 

Two of the most popular forms of home or gymna- 
sium exercise. This book is written by America's 
amateur champion club swinger, J. H. Dougherty. It 
is clearly illustrated, by which any novice can become 
an expert. Price 10 cents. 



No. 149-The Care of the Body 

A book that all who value health should read and follow its instruc- 
tions. By Prof. E. B. Warman. Price 10 cents. 



No. t52-Table Tennis 

The contents include the official rules and illustrations of the various 
strokes, posed by experts. Price 10 cents. 



No. 154-FieId Hockey 

To those in need of vigorous and health- 
ful out-of-doors exercise, this game is re- 
commended highly. Its healthful attri- 
butes are manifold and the interest of 
player and spectator alike is kept active 
throughout the progress of the game. Can 
> be played by either sex and occupies a pro- 
minent place in the sports at Vassar, Smith, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr and 
other leading colleges. Price 10 cents. 




No. 156 




The Athlete's Guide 

How to become an athlete. It contains full instruc- 
tions for the beginner, telling how to sprint, hurdle, 
jump and throw weights, general hints on training; in 
fact, this book is one of the most complete on the sub- 
ject that has ever appeared. Special chapters con- 
tain valuable advice to beginners, and important 
A. A. U. rules and their explanations, while the pic- 
tures comprise many exclusive scenes showing cham- 
pions in action. Price 10 cents. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 



How to Play Lawn Tennis 

A complete description of lawn tennis 
is found in this book ; a history of the 
game ; a lesson for beginners and direc- 
tions telling how to make every important 
stroke ; how to lay out a tennis court ; 
illustrated from photographs of leading 
players in action. Price 10 cents. 




No. 158 Indoor and Outdoor Gymnastic Games 

Without question one of the best books of its kind ever published. 
Compiled by Prof. A. M. Chesley, the well-known Y. M. C. A. physical 
director. It is a book that will prove valuable to indoor and outdoor gym- 
nasiums, schools, outings and gatherings where there are a number to be 
amused. The book contains over 100 games. Price 10 cents. 



161-Ten Minutes' Exercise for Busy Men 

By Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick, superintendent of physical 
training in the New York public schools. Anyone who is 
looking for a concise and complete course of physical edu- 
cation at home would do well to procure a copy of this 
book. There will be no necessity for anyone to apply for 
advice in order to become healthy and athletic. Ten 
minutes' work as directed is exercise anyone can follow. 
It already has had a large sale and has been highly 
commended by all who have followed its instructions. Price 10 cents. 




No. 162-How to Become a Boxer 

For many years books have been issued on 
the art of boxing, but it has remained for us 
to arrange a book that we think is sure to fill 
all demands. It contains over 70 pages of 
illustrations showing all the latest blows, 
posed especially for this book under the super- 
vision of one of the best instructors of boxing 
in the United States, who makes a specialty of 
teaching and who knows how to impart his knowledge. They are so ar- 
ranged that anyone can easily become a proficient boxer. The book also 
contains pictures of all the leading boxers, and official rules. Price 10 cents. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 





No. 165-The Art of Fencing 

Full instructions are given, with illustra- 
tions, for becoming proficient with the foils. 
Anyone can learn to become expert by care- 
fully studying this book. Price 10 cents. 



No. 166-How to Swing Indian Clubs 

By Prof. E. B. Warman. the well-known exponent of phy- 
sical culture. The most complete work on this special subject 
ever issued. By following the directions carefully anyone can 
become an expert club swinger in a short time, as the dia- 
grams are very plainly and intelligently drawn. Price 10 
cents. 




No. 167-Quoits 

By M. W. Deshong. The need of a book on 
this interesting game has been felt by many 
who wished to know the fine points and tricks 
used by the experts. Mr. Deshong explains 
them, with illustrations, so that a novice can 
readily understand. Price 10 cents. 



No. 170-Push Ball 

Played with an air-inflated ball 6 feet In 
diameter, weighing about 50 pounds. A side 
consists of eleven men. The game has met 
with instant favor, and now no school or 
athletic club is complete without one. Price 
10 cents. 



No. 171-Basket Ball for Women 

Edited by Miss Senda Berenson, of Smith 
College. Contains valuable information, special 
articles, official rules, and photos of teams of 
leading women's colleges and high schools. 
Price 10 cents. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 



No. (74-Distance and Cross 
Country Running 

' By George Orton, the famous University of 

Pennsylvania runner. Tells how to become 
proficient in these specialities, gives instruc- 
tions for training, and is illustrated with many 
full-page pictures. Price 10 cents. 

No. 177-How to Swim 

By J. II. Sterrett, the leading authority on 
swimming in America. The instructions will in- 
terest the expert as well as the novice; the 
illustrations were made from photographs es- 
pecially posed, showing the swimmer in clear 
water ; a valuable feature is the series of " land 
drill " exercises for the beginner, which is illustra- 
ted by many drawings. Price 10 cents. 



No. 178-How to Train for Bicycling 

Gives methods of the best riders when training 
for long or short distance races ; hints on training. 
Revised and up-to-date in every particular. Price 10 
cents. 



No. 179-How to Play Coif 

No golfer should miss having a copy of 
this golf guide. The photographic inter- 
view with James Braid, open champion of 
England, is well worth perusal. Harry 
Vardon tells how to play game, withlife- 
like illustrations showing the different 
strokes. The book also contains the re- 
vised official rules, as well as pictures of 
many important players, and a directory giving name, address, member- 
ship, dues and length of course of golf clubs in the United States. Price 
10 cents. 





No. 180-Ring Hockey 

A new game for the gymnasium, invented by Dr. J. M. Vorhees of 
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, that has sprung into instant popularity ; aA 
exciting as basket balL Price 10 cents. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 



I8l-Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide 

Edited by Walter Camp. Contains the new 
rules as recommended by the Rules Commit- 
tee, with diagram of field as newly arranged; 
special chapters on the game. Foot Ball for the 
Spectator, All-America Teams, Middle West 
Foot Ball, Foot Ball West of Mississippi River, 
Southern Foot Ball, Canadian Foot Ball, 
records of teams, details of principal changes in rules, and pictures of 
all the prominent teams, embracing nearly 3,000 players. Price 10 cents. 





No. 182-AII-Around Athletics 

Gives in full the method of scoring the Ail-Around 
Championship, giving percentage tables showing what 
each man receives for each performance in each of the 
tne events. It contains as well instructive articles on how 
to train for the Ail-Around Championship. Illustrated 
with many pictures of champions in action and scenes 
at all-around meets. Price 10 cents. 




No. 183-How to Play Foot Ball 

By Walter Camp. The contents embrace 
everything that a beginner wants to know 
and many points that an expert will be 
glad to learn. Quarterback is described 
by deSaulles, the famous Yale player; how 
to give signals is explained by Rockwell 
and Hogan of the Yale team, who show 
with many diagrams how the big teams 
make tlieir sensational plays; Lewis, the well-known Harvard player, 
gives instructions in the methods of defence, and William T. Reid, the 
former Harvard fullback, tells of the duties of the backs. The pictures 
are made from snapshots of the Yale, Harvard and Princeton teams in 
action. Price 10 cents. 

No. 184-OfTlical Basket Ball Guide 

Edited by George T. Hepbron. Contains the re- 
vised official rules, decisions on disputed points, 
records of prominent teams, reports on the game 
from various parts of the country, and pictures 
of hundreds of players. The standard basket ball 
annual of the country. Price 10 cents. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 
No. 185-Health Hints 

Health influenced by insulation ; health influenced by underwear ; 
health influenced by color ; exercise, who needs it ? A series of articles 
by Prof. E. B. Warman, the well known lecturer and authority on physi- 
cal culture. Price 10 cents. 




No. 186-How to Become a Bowler 

By S. Karpf, Secretary of the American Bowling- 
Congress, and one of the best posted men on bowling 
in America. A complete history of bowling, how to 
make an alley, hints for women bowlers, official rulea; 
illustrated. Price 10 cents. 



No. 187-How to Play Roller Polo 

Edited by J. C. Morse. A full description of the game ; official rules ; 
pictures of teams ; other articles of interest. Price 10 cents. 



No. 188-Lawn Hockey, Tether Tennis, Coif Cro- 
quet, Volley Ball, Hand Tennis, Etc. 

Containing the rules for each game. Illustrated. Price 10 cents. 

No. 189-Rules for Cames 

Compiled by Jessie H. Bancroft, director of physical training, depart- 
ment of education. New York City, Borough of Brooklyn. Arranged 
for school use and adapted to large classes as well as a few. Price 10 cents. 



No. l90-0fflcial Athletic Almanac 




numerous photos 
Price 10 cents. 



of 



Compiled by J. E. Sullivan, Secretary-Treasurer 
of the Amateur Athletic Union. It is the only 
annual publication issued now that contains a 
complete list of amateur best-on-records; complete 
intercollegiate records; complete English records 
from 1866 ; swimming records ; interscholastic 
records ; Irish, Scotch and Australasian records ; 
reports of leading athletic meets in 1903 , skating 
records ; important athletic events in 1903, and 
individual athletes and leading athletic teams. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 




No. 191-How to Punch the Bag 

By W, H. Rothvvell ("Young Corbett"), champion 
featherweight of the world. This book is undoubtedly 
the best treatise on bag punching that has ever been 
printed. Every variety of blow used in training is 
shown and explained. The pictures comprise thirty- 
three full page reproductions of Young Corbett as he 
J. '^ i "X appears while at work in his training quarters. The 

^/ "^Jl ^ photographs were taken by our special artist and 
cannot be seen in any other publication than Spalding's 
Athletic Library No. 191. Fancy bag punching is treated by a well known 
theatrical bag puncher, who shows the latest tricks in fancy work. 
For those who wish to become expert bag punchers this book is invalu- 
able. Price 10 cents. 

No. 192-lndoor Base Ball 

America's national game is now vieing with 
other indoor games as a winter pastime. This 
book contains the playing rules, pictures of 
leading teams, and interesting articles on the 
game, M. S. Walker, of the West Division H. 
S., Chicago, contributes an article on the bene- 
fits of the game for women. Price 10 cents. 

No. 193-How to Play Basket Ball 

By G. T. Hepbron, editor of the Official Basket 
Ball Guide. Contains full instructions for players, 
both for the expert and the novice, duties of 
officials, and specially posed full page pictures 
showing the correct and incorrect methods of 
playing. The demand for a book of this character 
is fully satisfied in this publication, as many 
points are included which could not be incorpor- 
ated in the annual publication of the Basket Ball 
Guide for want of room. Price 10 cents. 





No. 194-Racquets, 
Tennis 




Squash-Racquets and Court 

The need of an authoritative handbook 
at a popular price on these games is filled 
by this book. How to play each game is 
thorougly explained, and all the difficult 
strokes shown by special photographs 
taken especially for this book. Contains 
the official rules. Price 10 cents. 



SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 



No. 195-OfTlcial Roque Guide 

The official publication of the National Roque Asso- 
ciation of America. Edited by Prof. Charles Jacobus, 
ex-champion. Contains a description of the courts 
and their construction, diagrams of the field, illusti-a- 
tions, rules and valuable information concerning the 
game of roque. Price 10 cents. 





Base Ball Guide 

Edited by Henry Chadwick, 



No. 196-Oflflcial 

the 
"Father of Base Ball," the official 
publication of base ball. It con- 
tains a complete record of all 
leagues in America, pictures of 
the champion teams, official rules 
and reviews of the game, and 
much interesting infonnation. It 
is the standard base ball annual of the country. Price 10 cents. 



No. 197-Spalding's Lawn Tennis Annual 

Contains official statistics, photographs 
of leading players, special articles on the 
Ti|5^L„„ftli''l^ ' />» JVT^ game, review of important tournaments, 
official rules, handicapping rules and 
tables ; list of fixtures for the current 
»4,v. \ \ \_v^ year and other valuable information. Price 

10 cents. 




No. 198-Spalding's Official Cricket Guide 

Edited by Jerome Flannery, formerly 
pi-oprietor of Flannery's American Cricket 
Annual. Spalding's is the most com- 
plete year book of the game that has ever 
been published in America. It contains 
all the records of the previous year, 
reports of special matches, official rules 
and pictures of all the leading teams and 
individual players. Price 10 cents. 




SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 



No. 199-Equestrian Polo Guide 

Compiled by H. L. FitzPatrick of the New York 
Sun. Illustrated with portraits of leading players 
and contains most useful information for polo 
players in relation to playing the game, choosing 
of equipment, mounts, and the official rules. Price 
10 cents. 




No. 200-Dumb-bells 

This is undoubtedly the best work on dumb- 
bells that has ever been offered. The author, 
Mr. G. Bojus, of New York City, was formerly 
superintendent of physical culture in the 
Elizabeth (N. J.) public schools, instructor at 
Columbia University, instructor for four years 
at the Columbia summer school, and is now 
proprietor of the Liberty Street Gymnasium, 
at 121 Liberty Street, New York City, The book contains 200 photographs 
of all the various exercises, with the instructions in large, readable type. 
It should be in the hands of every teacher and pupil of physical culture, 
and is invaluable for home exercise as well. Price 10 cents. 



No. 201 




Lacrosse-From Candidate to Team 

By William C. Schmeisser, captain Johns Hopkinf? 
University champion intercollegiate lacrosse team of 
1902 ; edited by Ronald T. Abercrombie, ex-captain 
and coach of Johns Hopkins University lacrosse team, 
1900-1904. Every position is thoroughly explained in 
a most simple and concise manner, rendering it the 
best manual of the game ever published Illustrated. 
Price 10 cents. 



No. 202-HOW to Play Base Ball 

Edited by T. H. Murnane. The editor has obtained 
from such well-known players as Lajoie, Kittredge, 
Clarke, Cy Young, Willis, Callahan, Doyle, and other 
equally prominent players, special articles telling just 
how they play their respective positions. Ovd^ 50 
full-page pictures of prominent players in action are 

shown, and accurate photographs showing how to hold the various curves 

and drops. Price 10 cents. 




AUG 12 1904 

SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY 

PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY 



No.203-lce Hockey and Ice Polo 

Written by the most famous player in Canada, 
A. Farrell, of the Shamrock hockey team of Mon- 
treal. It is well worth perusal by any player of 
the game. It contains a complete description of 
the game of hockey, its origin, points of a good 
player, and a complete and instructive article on 
how the game is played, with diagrams and the 
official rules. Illustrated with pictures of leading teams. Price 10 cents. 





No.204-Of¥lcial Intercollegiate A. A. A. Handbook 

Contains official rules that govern intercollegiate events 
and all intercollegiate records from 1876. Any boy who 
expects to go to college and try for the athletic team 
should be familiar with these records. Price 10 cents. 

No.205-Offlcial Handbook of the Public Schools 
Athletic League (Greater New York) 

This is the official handbook of the Public 

r-Y^fe>^:^^fe^ Schools Athletic League, which embraces all 
XWTi <=».! the public schools of Greater New York. It 
contains the official rules that govern all the 
contests of the league, and constitution, 
by-laws and officers. Edited by Dr. Luther 
Halsey Gulick, superintendent of physical 
education in the New York public schools, and 
Wm. C. J. Kelly, secretary of the league. Illustrated with numerous 
portraits of schoolboy athletes. Price 10 cents. 




LB da '05 



